Pancreatic cancer resection in elderly patients.
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic cancer resection is considered a high-risk procedure in patients aged 70 years or older.


METHODS
Some 398 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, observed between 1990 and 1995, were reviewed. Operative outcome and survival of 33 patients aged 70 years or more were compared with findings in 85 younger patients who underwent resection.


RESULTS
Resectability was not significantly different between the elderly and younger patients; neither were mortality or overall morbidity. However, patients aged 70 years or more had more relaparotomies (P < 0.01) and more haemorrhagic complications (P < 0.001). Nutritional recovery after resection was satisfying even for elderly patients (body-weight gain and increase in serum albumin concentrations, P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed a moderately poorer survival in the elderly (P = 0.09). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that tumour diameter, grading and Union Internacional Contra la Cancrum stage were independent prognostic factors, whereas age was not.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients aged 70 years or more can benefit from pancreatic cancer resection similarly to younger patients.
DiCarlo
V
V
Department of Surgery, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Balzano
G
G
Zerbi
A
A
Villa
E
E
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004435:Eating; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain