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Long-term results after pulmonary resection in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer
M Kamiyoshihara1, O Kawashima, S Ishikawa
1Department of Surgery, National Sanatorium, Nishi-Gunma Hospital, Shibukawa, Japan. kamiyosi@sa2.so-net.ne.jp
Background:
The number of elder by patients with lung cancer is expected to increase. But, there was no report that 10 years completely passed in surgically treated elderly patients (E-pts). This study assesses late results of surgery.
Methods:
From 1981 to 1987, 160 patients with non-small cell lung cancer underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection. Of these, 37 (23%) were 70 years of age or older. The outcome of this group was compared with that of 123 non-elderly patients (NE-pts).
Results:
There were no significant differences in the background between E-pts and NE-pts. Five- and 10-year survivals in the E-pts were 35.1%, and 24.3%, respectively. In outcome more than 5 years from operation, E-pts had a significantly poorer prognosis than NE-pts (p=0.04) by any causes of death, but a similar prognosis by primary death. E-pts died of nontumor-related death significantly more than NE-pts (p=0.6).
Conclusions:
This study showed that E-pts could consummate their lives completely. Additionally, when long-term prognosis of the postoperative E-pts was discussed, we should contemplate that E-pts had more deaths from nontumor-related causes.