Surgical treatment for gastric carcinoma in the elderly.

Background And Objectives: The incidence of gastric cancer is increasing in the elderly. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of advanced age (> or =80 years) on morbidity, mortality and late outcome after curative surgery for gastric cancer.

Methods: The cases of 30 octogenarians (Group A) with gastric cancer who underwent surgical treatment in our Institution from 1990 to 2003 were reviewed and compared to a simultaneous group of 228 younger patients (Group B).

Results: The rate of resective and curative procedures was not different in the two groups, although the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) risk was significantly higher in the elderly (P < 0.001) and the lymphatic dissection was less extended in group A. In the two groups, the curability was directly correlated to the cancer stage, but not affected by the ASA risk. The postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were similar in the two groups and were not related to the ASA risk. Considering the mortality for gastric cancer alone, the two groups showed a similar survival rate, only correlated to the cancer stage.

Conclusions: In the elderly, an oncologically correct surgical procedure can safely be prosecuted with satisfactory immediate and late results.