title: Outcome of hepatectomy in super-elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of super-elderly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients aged 80 years or more who underwent hepatectomy and to clarify whether elderly patients with HCC benefit from hepatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 1992 and December 2008, 278 patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for HCC were investigated. Super-elderly patients were defined as those aged 80 years or more. Clinicopathological data and outcomes after hepatectomy were compared between super-elderly and non-super-elderly groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperative parameters, such as biochemical examinations, and liver function tests in the non-super-elderly group were comparable with those of the super-elderly group (n = 11). Exceptionally, albumin level in the super-elderly group was lower than that in the non-super-elderly group (P = 0.03). Surgical data and the prevalence of postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the two groups. No mortality was observed in the super-elderly and non-super-elderly group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatectomy for HCC was a feasible option even in super elderly patients aged 80 years or older with accurate selection.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, Institute of Health Bioscience, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, Kuramoto             Department of Surgery, Tokushima Municipal Hospital, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Utsunomiya
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morine
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imura
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikemoto
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hanaoka
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwahashi
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito