[Colorectal cancer in the elderly: which surgical approach?]

Single-operator case studies of 135 patients undergoing surgery for colon rectal carcinoma (CRC) between June 2004 and April 2008 in our Institute. Patients were divided into two groups (A: < 70 years old, n = 44, - = 27 U = 17, B: ≥ 70 years old, n = 91, - = 49 U = 42) and were compared clinical, pathological and surgical data. In particular, were analyzed age range and average age, ASA score, post-operative complications (major and minor), mortality at 30 days. Surgical procedure with radical intent (R0) was achieved in 41 (93%) and 76 (83%) patients respectively in group A and B; Given the more than double the number in group B than in group A is easy to imagine that for equal numbers in both groups might have observed an almost equal R0 resections in both groups; Despite the uneven number of groups A and B, it was noted that age is not a factor in determining the surgical therapeutic strategy in the CRC, as well as the clinical conditions of patients.