title: Clinicopathologic characteristics of serosa-positive gastric carcinoma in elderly patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between the prognosis and the age of patients with gastric carcinoma is controversial. This study examined the clinicopathologic features of elderly gastric carcinoma patients with serosal invasion.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the hospital records of 136 elderly gastric carcinoma patients with serosal invasion retrospectively to compare the clinicopathologic findings in the elderly (aged > 70 years) and young (aged < 36 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5-year survival rates of elderly and young patients with curative resection did not differ statistically (33.9% vs. 43.3%; P = 0.318). Multivariate analysis showed that two factors were independent, statistically significant parameters associated with survival: histologic type (risk ratio, 1.805; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.041 to 3.132; P < 0.05) and operative curability (risk ratio, 2.506; 95% CI, 1.371 to 4.581; P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that elderly gastric carcinoma patients with serosal invasion do not have a worse prognosis than young patients. The important prognostic factor was whether the patients underwent curative resection.
authors: Division of Gastroenterologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors: Ho Gun
authors: HG
authors: Kim
authors: Hyo
authors: H
authors: Kang
authors: Dong Yi
authors: DY
authors: Kim
authors: Jae Kyoon
authors: JK
authors: Joo
authors: Seong Yeob
authors: SY
authors: Ryu
authors: Jae Hyuk
authors: JH
authors: Lee