Gynecologic malignancies of the elderly.

Gynecologic malignancies account for over 20,000 deaths in the United States each year, and over half of these occur in elderly women. If discovered in their early stages, each of these cancers is curable, but increasing age usually correlates with more advanced stage of disease. Except for ovarian cancer, these diseases can be detected in asymptomatic women by simple screening procedures. Although elderly women may be more difficult to treat because of intercurrent medical illness, when they are treated aggressively, age usually has no independent prognostic significance.