Evaluation of Surgical Treatment for Aged Patients with Gastric Cancer (Over 80 Years of Age)

Abstract

To identify the problem of surgical treatment for the aged patients with gastric cancer, the clinico-pathological findings in 66 patients over 80 years of age (Group A) were compared with those in 4066 patients under 74 years of age (Group B). The conclusions were as follows: 1) There was no difference in resectability and rate of total gastrectomy. The operative mortality was 5.3% in group A and it was significantly higher than that in group B (p<0.05). The frequency of postoperative complications was high (22.8%) in group A. 2) Charactaristics of carcinoma in group A was clear differentiation of histology and tendency of high grade advancement in lymph node metastasis. 3) Except for other cause of death, the five-year survival rate with curative resection was satisfactory in group A (66.2%u). 4) A lowering preoperative %vc should be considered a risk factor for postoperative complications in group A. These results suggest that radical resection should be performed in aged patients over 80 years old if their general condition allows it. If not, rational surgical procedures are desirable.