[Radiotherapy for elderly patients]

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 1998 Jun;25(7):980-4.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Radiotherapy is of particular benefit to elderly patients as alternative surgery, and it is widely used with curative and palliative intent. Patients aged 75 and older accounted for 5-10% of all cases, and half of them had some complications. Radical radiotherapy was performed in 63-73% of the elderly patients and 88-100% were able to complete the planned course. Several authors reported that the elderly patients adequately staged, can tolerate radical radiotherapy and have survival comparable to that of younger patients. But careful management is needed.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / radiotherapy
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / mortality
  • Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Palliative Care
  • Survival Analysis