title: Long-term results after pulmonary resection in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of elder by patients with lung cancer is expected to increase. But, there was no report that 10 years completely passed in surgically treated elderly patients (E-pts). This study assesses late results of surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1981 to 1987, 160 patients with non-small cell lung cancer underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection. Of these, 37 (23%) were 70 years of age or older. The outcome of this group was compared with that of 123 non-elderly patients (NE-pts).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in the background between E-pts and NE-pts. Five- and 10-year survivals in the E-pts were 35.1%, and 24.3%, respectively. In outcome more than 5 years from operation, E-pts had a significantly poorer prognosis than NE-pts (p=0.04) by any causes of death, but a similar prognosis by primary death. E-pts died of nontumor-related death significantly more than NE-pts (p=0.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that E-pts could consummate their lives completely. Additionally, when long-term prognosis of the postoperative E-pts was discussed, we should contemplate that E-pts had more deaths from nontumor-related causes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National Sanatorium, Nishi-Gunma Hospital, Shibukawa, Japan. kamiyosi@sa2.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamiyoshihara
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morishita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate