title: Surgery for lung cancer in the elderly.
abstract: In order to assess the appropriateness of lung cancer surgery in the elderly and determine optimal subjects and resection procedure, 75 patients operated on in 1976-1996 at age > or =75 years (including 13 > or =80) were followed up. The operations included limited resection (8), lobectomy (47), bilobectomy (10) and pneumonectomy (10) and were judged to be radical in 59 cases (79%). Perioperative mortality was 9% and morbidity 29%, including 21% major complications. Cumulative 5-year survival was 32%, in stages IA-IIB 27-41%, and cancer-related survival 61-79%. Mortality did not differ significantly between resection types, but morbidity did. Nor did mortality, morbidity or survival differ between the age groups 75-79 and > or =80 years. In stage I cancer there was no significant difference in survival or cancer-related survival after lobectomy vs limited resection. We conclude that age, even >80 years, is not incompatible with curative resection. Lobectomy is the treatment of choice, but a less radical resection may be advisable if there is comorbidity. If more extensive resection is performed, the individual surgical risk must be weighed against the potential long-term benefit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sioris
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perhoniemi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mattila
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate