Age‐specific incidence and treatment patterns of head and neck cancer in the Netherlands—A cohort study

• Published in: Clinical otolaryngology Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 317 - 324
• Main Authors: Halmos, G.B., Bras, L., Siesling, S., Laan, B.F.A.M., Langendijk, J.A., Dijk, B.A.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2018
• Subjects: Age; Cancer; Cohort analysis; elderly; Head & neck cancer; head and neck cancer; Health risk assessment; Incidence; Oral cancer; Oral cavity; Oropharyngeal cancer; Patients; Population studies; Throat cancer; treatment; Tumors; Netherlands; treatment; head and neck cancer; incidence; elderly; age
• ISSN: 1749-4478; 1749-4486
• DOI: 10.1111/coa.12991

Objectives To explore the incidence and treatment pattern of head and neck cancer in different age groups. Design Cohort study. Setting Netherlands Cancer Registry. Participants All new primary head and neck cancer cases diagnosed between 2010 and 2014 were included and categorised into different age groups. Main outcome measures Tumour site, stage, treatment modality, location of diagnosis and treatment. Results The study population was composed of 11 558 tumours. Oral cancer was the most common primary site (31%), followed by laryngeal (25%) and oropharyngeal cancer (22%). Ninety‐six per cent of the entire study population was diagnosed and/or treated in a certified head and neck oncology centre which was lower in the 80+ population (92%). Multimodality treatment was less frequently applied with increasing age (eg oral cavity: 17% in 80+ vs 34% in 60−; P < .001). The percentage of patients not receiving tumour‐directed treatment increased with age (eg oropharyngeal cancer: 25% in 80+ vs 6% in 80−; P < .001). Conclusions This study confirms that less multimodal and tumour‐directed treatment is applied with the increasing age of head and neck cancer patients.