Evaluation of the treatment of head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in the elderly: a survival analysis.

Introduction: It is unknown whether cervical lymphadenectomy as a treatment for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (cSCCh&n) increases survival in elderly patients. The aim of this study is to determine whether this procedure has an influence on the survival of these patients, and whether the Short-Form Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI-SF) can be used as an alternative to age in the surgeon's estimation of elderly patient mortality.

Methods: The study population included all patients diagnosed with cSCCh&n consecutively treated between 2006 and 2011.