INVESTIGATION OF SKIN CANCER IN THE GERIATRIC AGE GROUP

Introduction: With the increase in lifespan, age related diseases including cancer also increase. With this in mind, in our study we evaluated treatment methods and results of patients who were older than age 65 and operated for skin cancer in the Plastic Surgery Clinic. Material and Method: Patients older than age 65 who were operated between 2010 and 2014 for skin cancer in the Department of Plastic Surgery were included in our study. Age, gender, diagnosis, localization, operation, lymph node dissection and additional treatments were analysed. Results: 91 geriatric patients with skin cancer were detected. The average age of patients was 74.4 years. 47 (51.65%) patients were female; 44 patients (48.35 %) were male. With respect to diagnosis, 58 (63.74%) had basal cell carcinoma, 27 (29.67%) had squamous cell carcinoma, and in 6 (6.59%) patients cutaneous melanoma was detected. A review of surgical operations showed that 22 (24.17%) patients had lesion excision + primary suturation, 19 (20.88%) had lesion excision + graft repair, 48 (52.75%) had lesion excision + local flap repair, and 2 (2.20%) had amputation. Conclusion: In recent years, skin cancer, especially the incidence and mortality of cutaneous melanoma, has been seen more frequently in elders, compared to younger patients. In health controls, the mortality of skin cancer may be reduced by taking into account the geriatric age group.