title: Cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in elderly patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The treatment of peritoneal malignancies in elderly patients with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an ongoing question due to the high associated surgical risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients, 11 (36.7%) older than 65 years, were submitted to CRS plus HIPEC. Criteria of patient eligibility were: peritoneal carcinomatosis of different origin, T3-4 gastric cancer, ECOG performance status ≤2, no extra-abdominal extension and no evidence of bowel obstruction. The median follow-up was 21.5 months (range: 1-63). The purpose of this retrospective study, was to evaluate the feasibility of this approach in elderly patients, with special reference to postoperative morbidity, mortality and survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have recorded, in elderly patients, higher grade 3 and 4 morbidity and mortality, similar mean duration of cytoreductive surgery, of postoperative hospital stay, of median survival and of overall survival rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since there no statistical differences, in terms of morbidity and mortality, CRS with HIPEC may also be suitable for elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Department of Human Pathology, General Surgery Unit, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macrì
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saladino
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trimarchi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bartolo
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossitto
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cannaò
authors.forename: Antongiacomo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Famulari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome