ABSTRACT
Classification and staging of lymphoma in the elderly 1000 Classification 1000 Staging 1001 Special considerations for treatment of lymphoma 1002
in the elderly Specific lymphomas 1002
Indolent lymphoma 1003 Aggressive lymphoma 1003 Special lymphomas 1005 Hodgkin lymphoma 1005 Conclusion 1006 Key points 1006 References 1007
Clinicians caring for patients with lymphoid cancers need to appreciate two long-term trends unfolding throughout the world: first, the median age of the populations of most countries is steadily increasing; second, the incidence of lymphoma in the elderly continues to rise, a robust trend that has continued for more than 50 years.1-7 In addition, physicians caring for elderly patients with lymphoma also need to take into consideration the physiologic changes that accompany aging and the impact of lifestyle choices and effects of long-term medication for other conditions. In the public health sphere, policy planners must anticipate the increased demands these patients will impose on the medical care system. Characterization of these trends and a description of the progress that has been made in the classification and treatment of lymphoid cancers in general should prove helpful for both individual patient care and population health-care planning.
