Elderly Patients with H&N Cancer: To Operate or to Not? Part 1 - Mucosal Malignancies

Monday, October 19, 2026

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM PT

Location: 515B

Panelist(s)

hM

hilary Caitlyn McCrary, MD, MPH

Head and Neck Surgeon
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Moderator(s)

Catherine T. Haring, MD

Assistant Professor
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH, United States

Panelist(s)

Ray Y. Wang, MD

Head and Neck Surgeon
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States
PP

Patrik Pipkorn, MD

Associate Professor
Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery Washington University
St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Attendees can expect an interactive, tumor board–style discussion focused on treatment decision-making for elderly patients with mucosal head and neck malignancies. Using real-world cases, panelists will explore when surgical intervention is appropriate versus when non-surgical or palliative approaches may offer greater benefit, emphasizing factors beyond chronologic age such as frailty, comorbidities, and functional reserve. Faculty will discuss surgical strategies that minimize functional impact, the role of systemic and radiation therapy, and the head and neck surgeon’s role in end-of-life and palliative discussions. Live audience polling will be integrated to highlight practice variation and evolving perspectives.

Learning Objectives:

Incorporate measures other than age (e.g. frailty) in the treatment selection process.
Define the role of the head and neck cancer surgeon in end-of-life discussions and palliative care.
Identify and manage decision-making quandaries in this challenging patient cohort.