The characteristics and surgical results of hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly patients

Abstract

Purpose: As advances in surgical techniques, anesthetic procedures, and post operative care have all made surgery less hazardous recently, the number of operative patients in elderly people with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is expected to increase as the population ages. In this report, we have examined how the characteristics and the outcomes of surgery in elderly patients differ from those in younger patients.
Materials & methods: Between July 1994 and December 2009, 845 patients received their initial therapy for HCC in our institute. Of these 58 patients (Elder group; E group) were older than 80 years. The characteristics and therapeutic survival effect were prospectively evaluated and statistically analyzed.
Results: In the background characteristics of E group and 787 younger patients less than 80 years old (Young group; Y group) who underwent microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy (MCN) or hepatic resection (HR), there were significant differences for sex and existence of viral hepatitis. There were no differences in liver function and tumor characteristics between E and Y group. Eight patients of E group who treated by HR have been doing well without any complications. The 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year cumulative survival rates for E and Y group were 96.9, 72.6, 41.1, -% and 95.7, 78.1, 60.5, 31.9%, respectively (p = 0.0572). No significant differences were found in cumulative survival rates, disease free survival after surgical treatment between E and Y group.
Conclusion: The above results suggested that selected elderly patients with HCC benefit from surgery, irrespective of their age.