Surgical treatment for gastric carcinoma in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
The incidence of gastric cancer is increasing in the elderly. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of advanced age (> or =80 years) on morbidity, mortality and late outcome after curative surgery for gastric cancer.


METHODS
The cases of 30 octogenarians (Group A) with gastric cancer who underwent surgical treatment in our Institution from 1990 to 2003 were reviewed and compared to a simultaneous group of 228 younger patients (Group B).


RESULTS
The rate of resective and curative procedures was not different in the two groups, although the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) risk was significantly higher in the elderly (P < 0.001) and the lymphatic dissection was less extended in group A. In the two groups, the curability was directly correlated to the cancer stage, but not affected by the ASA risk. The postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were similar in the two groups and were not related to the ASA risk. Considering the mortality for gastric cancer alone, the two groups showed a similar survival rate, only correlated to the cancer stage.


CONCLUSIONS
In the elderly, an oncologically correct surgical procedure can safely be prosecuted with satisfactory immediate and late results.
Coniglio
Arianna
A
Surgical Clinic, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Brescia University, Brescia, Italy.
Tiberio
Guido Alberto Massimo
GA
Busti
Monica
M
Gaverini
Giacomo
G
Baiocchi
Luca
L
Piardi
Tullio
T
Ronconi
Maurizio
M
Giulini
Stefano Maria
SM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate