[Partial Gastrectomy for Elderly Patients with Early-Stage Gastric Cancer]

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of partial gastrectomy on postoperative outcomes in elderly patients with gastric cancer. Sixty -three consecutive elderly patients aged 75 years and older with histologically proven Stage ⅠA gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent partial gastrectomy(PG, n=7)or normal gastrectomy(NG, n=56)were investigated. PG was performed by segmental gastrectomy or local gastrectomy due to poor performance status, severe comorbidities, and social background instead of normal gastrectomy(distal, proximal, and total gastrectomy). Both body mass index(BMI)and body weight changes 12 months postoperatively were significantly higher in those who underwent PG(20.5 kg/m2 vs 18.4 kg/m2, p=0.043; and 96.6% vs 86.4%, p=0.016)despite being statistically similar preoperatively. The 5-year cause-specific survival rate of those who underwent PG was 100% excluding relapse cases. The 5-year overall survival rates were 86% in those who underwent PG and 67%in those who underwent NG, although they differed significantly. Partial gastrectomy may be a valid surgical procedure that may yield better prognosis compared to that with normal gastrectomy for elderly patients with Stage ⅠA gastric cancer.