Pancreas Cancer Surgery in Octogenarians - Should We or Should We Not?

Background/aim: In this study we aimed to determine if advanced age represents a risk factor for negative perioperative and long-term outcome in patients undergoing curative surgery ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma surgery.

Patients And Methods: Two-hundred-twenty-one consecutive patients, twelve (6%) patients ≥80 years were included in the study. We assessed perioperative and long-term outcome and independent predictors for in-hospital mortality with Cox regression analysis.

Results: Advanced age was not a predictor for in-hospital mortality (6.3% in non-octogenarian versus 8.3% in octogenarians; p=0.55) nor for morbidity (31% vs. 32%; p=0.69). An ASA score >II was the only predictor for in-hospital mortality (odds ratio (OR)=10.10, 95%CI=1.28-79.60; Hosmer-Lemeshow: p=0.86). No significant difference was observed in one- and five-year survival rates (68 and 58% vs. 16 and 14%; log-rank p=0.61).

Conclusion: Advanced age is not a risk factor for negative outcome in curative pancreatic cancer surgery. Therefore, this single curative option should be considered in octogenarians at risk.