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

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 categorized in 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 percent 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 (e.g. oral cavity: 17% in 80+ vs. 34% in 60-; p<0.001). The percentage of patients not receiving tumour directed treatment increased with age (e.g. oropharyngeal cancer: 25% in 80+ vs. 6% in 80-; p