Interventional oncology in the elderly: complications and early response in liver and kidney malignancies.
OBJECTIVE
The complication rate, loco-regional responses and length of hospital stay were analyzed in patients with liver and kidney cancer older than 70years treated with interventional oncology procedures. The findings from the older population were compared with the younger patients (<70years) to detect any difference not related to chance.


METHODS
Prospectively collected data on patients who underwent hepatic artery embolization (with or without radiofrequency ablation) and kidney radiofrequency ablation were retrospectively analyzed. Complication rates, loco-regional responses and length of hospital stay for patients older and younger than 70 were compared.


RESULTS
163 patients were treated, 66 (40.5%) older and 97 (59.5%) younger than 70years. The complication rate in patients older than 70 was 4.5% (3/66 pts) versus 3.1% (3/97 pts) (p=0.69) in the younger age-group. The complication rates for the liver embolization group, liver embolization plus radiofrequency and kidney radiofrequency group were 2/90 pts (2.2%), 2/42 pts (4.8%) and 2/31 pts (6.5%), respectively (p=0.46). Median hospital stay was three nights in both older and younger patients. Response rates were not significantly influenced by age.


CONCLUSIONS
Liver embolization with or without radiofrequency and renal radiofrequency are safe and effective in older patients. Age alone should not be considered a contraindication to treatment in carefully selected patients.
Interventional Radiology Unit, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: lorenzo.monfardini@ieo.it.
L
L
Monfardini
P
P
Della Vigna
G
G
Bonomo
F
F
Orsi
M
M
Tullii
D
D
Disalvatore
S
S
Monfardini
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies