title: Sphincter-saving proctectomy for rectal cancer in the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rectal cancer shows a high incidence in older patients, however, only few reports focused exclusively on rectal cancer with the exclusion of the surgery of the colon. This retrospective study aims to compare short-term and long-term outcomes for rectal cancer in patients more than 75 years old with that observed in younger patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred consecutive patients operated on for primary rectal adenocarcinoma were collected in a prospective institutional database and divided into two groups: group 1 (≥ 75 years, n =98); group 2 (<75 years, n= 302). Sphincter-saving restaurative proctectomy was the only procedure considered. Main clinical and pathological data, morbidity, clinical anastomotic leakage, reoperation rate, 30-day mortality, overall survival, and cancer-related survival were assessed and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our experience, advanced age itself is not a contraindication for surgical sphincter-saving proctetomy in rectal cancer patients, although it is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Overall survival is lower in patients over 75 age, but cancer-related survival is not different between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, advanced age itself is not a contraindication for surgical sphincter-saving proctetomy in rectal cancer patients, although it is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Overall survival is lower in patients over 75 age, but cancer-related survival is not different between the two groups.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Outcomes, Rectal Cancer, Elderly, Sphincter-saving, Surgery.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ammendola
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sammarco
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: Severino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montemurro
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001003:Anal Canal; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000453:epidemiology; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments / Q000379:methods*; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative / Q000379:methods*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies