title: Prospective evaluation of the management of hepatocellular carcinoma in the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An increasing proportion of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are older than 75 years. Previous studies suggested that ageing does not adversely impact survival but they have the drawback of being retrospective and spanning a prolonged period of time.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate management and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multidisciplinary oncology meeting prospectively evaluated all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Management were standardised according to European and American guidelines. Forty patients older than 75 years were matched with younger patients for tumour extension and liver function. Both groups were compared for the type of treatment and survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male/female ratio was 1.2 as compared to 7 in controls. Cirrhosis was related mostly to hepatitis C virus in elderly, and equally to hepatitis C or B virus and alcohol in controls. Curative treatments were recommended in 55% of elderly and 75% of controls. Treatment actually performed was curative in 25% in elderly as compared to 63% in controls. Median survival (30 months) was identical in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite more restricted access to curative treatments, survival of elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma is comparable to that of younger patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Hôpital Beaujon, AP-HP, Clichy, France.
authors.forename: Violaine
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ozenne
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouattour
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goutté
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Vullierme
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ripault
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castelnau
authors.forename: Dominique-Charles
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Valla
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Degos
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Farges
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents