Should patients over 85 years old be operated on for colorectal cancer?

The aim of this study is to evaluate risk factors for mortality, morbidity, and long-term survival in very old patients with colorectal cancer compared with old patients.

Patients operated on with colorectal cancer aged 75 years old or older were divided into 2 groups: Group A (75-84 years, n = 93) and Group B (>or=85, n = 21).

The serum albumin level, oxygen pressure in arterial blood gases, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second in Group B were significantly lower than in Group A, respectively (P = 0.0094, 0.0264, 0.0363). Pulmonary complications were developed significantly more frequently in Group B than in Group A (P = 0.0019). Group B had a significantly higher mortality rate than Group A (P = 0.0477). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the 2- and 5-year survival rates.

Very old patients with colorectal cancer should not be denied surgery on account of chronological age alone, although the perioperative risks for the very old are very high.