Clinicopathological characteristics of gastric carcinoma in young and elderly patients: a comparative study

Gastric cancer is one of the most common gastrointestinal malignancies world-wide. Some studies have suggested that it has a worse prognosis in young than in elderly patients.

All young and elderly patients treated for gastric adenocarcinoma during the period 1988 to 1994 in a tertiary referral center in Mexico City were included. Demographic, clinical, and pathologic features of young patients (less than 40 years of age) with gastric cancer were compared with those of elderly patients (70 years of age or older) with the same diagnosis. Overall survival was the main outcome measure.

There were 38 patients in each group. The mean age of the young and elderly groups was 33 and 77 years, respectively. Family history of gastric cancer was reported by 6 patients of the younger group and by 1 patient in the older group (P < .05). Most patients in both groups were symptomatic and had an advanced stage of the disease. With a mean follow-up of 17 months, the overall median survival for all patients was 12 months. By group, the median survival was 13 and 12 months for the young and elderly patients, respectively (P = .38). Variables with significant impact on survival were the stage of the disease, possibility of surgical resection, location of the tumor, and a family history of gastric cancer.

Young patients represent a significant proportion of patients with gastric cancer in Hispanic populations. There were no significant differences in clinicopathological characteristics and outcome of gastric adenocarcinoma between young and elderly patients. Survival was determined by the stage of the tumor and the possibility of complete surgical resection.