Is Chest Wall Resection Safe in Geriatric Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?

Our aim in this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of surgery in patients undergoing chest wall resection due to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on age groups.

The study was conducted retrospectively on 160 patients with NSCLC who underwent chest wall resection between 2009 and 2019. Patients were classified into Group A (under 70 years) and Group B (70 years and older).

The study found a complication rate of 28.1%, but no negative impact of the geriatric age group on complications was determined. The risk of complications varied depending on the number of ribs removed (p = 0.035). The survival rate for Group A was 72%, while for Group B it was 93% (p = 0.189). No significant differences were found in terms of gender, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and histopathological results. In patients who underwent lobectomy, survival was 85%, while a significant difference was observed in those who underwent pneumonectomy, with a survival rate of 41% (p < 0.001).

It was determined that advanced age is not a prognostic factor in surgical resection regarding complications and survival, with the most important prognostic factors being the type of resection and the stage of the disease.