title: Long-term outcome of elderly patients (75 years or older) with hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) aged 75 years or older.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 422 patients with HCC, who were divided into two age groups: 75 years or older (n = 140) and younger than 75 (n = 282). Outcomes were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of elderly patients treated with supportive care alone (33 patients; 24%) was significantly higher than younger patients (30 patients; 11%, P < 0.01). The 1-, 3-, 5- and 7-year overall survival rates of the elderly patients (81%, 55%, 39% and 23%, respectively) were worse than those of younger patients (85%, 64%, 49% and 36%, respectively, P = 0.042). However, the overall survival rate of the elderly group after excluding 63 patients treated with supportive care alone, was similar to that of the younger group (P = 0.615). Multivariate analysis identified age, total bilirubin levels, albumin levels, serum des-γ-carboxy prothrombin levels, tumor size, number of HCC nodules, vascular invasion, extrahepatic metastasis and treatment modality as independent and significant factors of overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advanced age is a negative prognostic factor in patients with HCC due to the tendency for frequent use of conservative treatment rather than locoregional or surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Maisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimose
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yutani
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuraoka
authors.forename: Ryoko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuromatsu
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sumie
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
keywords: elderly; hepatocellular carcinoma; prognosis; therapy