Most @entity213 @entity1 are elderly, with few younger than 40 years. Controversy exists in the literature regarding outcomes for younger @entity1 . The goal of this research project was to compare baseline features and outcomes for young @entity1 (</=40 years), middle-aged @entity1 (41-64 years), and old @entity1 (>/=65 years). To investigate the relationship between age and important presenting features and outcomes, 1160 recently diagnosed @entity1 first treated at Washington University between 1980 and 1991 were identified from an existing database. Full 5-year survival information was available for 1030 @entity1 (89%). Overall, the 5-year survival rate was 46% (478/1030); young @entity1 (65%, 26/40) had a significantly better survival rate than middle-aged (52%, 292/566) or old @entity1 (38%, 160/424) (chi(2) = 24.5; P = 0. 001). Survival was also related to smoking, comorbidity, primary site, @entity2802 stage, and @entity66 . Age remained a significant factor even after we controlled for these other factors. Young @entity1 developed fewer recurrent and new @entity5 . We conclude that young @entity1 have a much better overall prognosis than older @entity1 . The reasons for this difference are unclear, but it appears that the impact of age goes beyond an actuarial effect.

XXXX : better to be young.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity66 :: ('MESH:D004194', 'Disease') :: ['nodal disease'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['primary tumors'] @entity2802 :: ('10178', 'Gene') :: ['TNM'] @entity213 :: ('MESH:C535575', 'Disease') :: ['head and neck squamous cell carcinoma']
@entity213 :: (MESH:C535575,Disease) :: ['Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma']
