Abstract
Recently, the average age of Japanese people has increased, and the proportion of elderly colorectal carcinoma patients has become larger. Therefore, we collected and studied colorectal carcinomas in order to differentiate between an edlerly group (over 70 years old) and a control group (under 69 years old).
The elderly group represented 44 among 218 cases (20.2%) during 15 years and had no characteristic symptoms. They had more right-sided colon carcinomas and cancers in other organs than the controls. The former showed a variety in macroscopic appearance and the latter in microscopic features, although there was no significant difference. Distant and lymph node metastasis, peritoneal dissemination, vascular and lymphatic invasions occurred at almost the same rate between them. However, lymph node metastasis and depth of invasion were milder in the elderly group. Thus, the stage was earlier than in the controls.
The five-year survival rate was, however, almost the same between them. We think that weakened physical ability and lowered expectations of life were some of the potential reasons. Nevertheless, we think that the better prognosis of the elderly group is still expected when resection is done. Thus, efforts to diagnose earlier, to manage better, and to choose more rational operative procedures are still needed.
