INTRODUCTION: Population demographics and disease epidemiology is resulting in more elderly patients presenting with regional metastases from cutaneous malignancy of the head and neck region. Surgery remains the most appropriate primary treatment option. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed consecutive patients aged 80 and over who developed regional metastases from cutaneous cancers of head and neck and underwent a neck dissection over a two-and-a-half-year period. Data were obtained from the cancer database and patients' notes. A Kaplan-Meier survival graph was constructed. RESULTS: Our study demonstrated a low postoperative morbidity but one patient died from medical complications with in the first 30 days post surgery. The median survival time following surgery is nearly two years. CONCLUSIONS: We continue to advocate primary surgery for cutaneous metastatic malignancy from the head and neck area but patients need multidisciplinary team discussions, thorough assessment and counselling.
INTRODUCTION: Population demographics and disease epidemiology is resulting in more elderly patients presenting with regional metastases from cutaneous malignancy of the head and neck region. Surgery remains the most appropriate primary treatment option. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed consecutive patients aged 80 and over who developed regional metastases from cutaneous cancers of head and neck and underwent a neck dissection over a two-and-a-half-year period. Data were obtained from the cancer database and patients' notes. A Kaplan-Meier survival graph was constructed. RESULTS: Our study demonstrated a low postoperative morbidity but one patient died from medical complications with in the first 30 days post surgery. The median survival time following surgery is nearly two years. CONCLUSIONS: We continue to advocate primary surgery for cutaneous metastatic malignancy from the head and neck area but patients need multidisciplinary team discussions, thorough assessment and counselling.