[Current status and problems of gastric cancer in the aged]

Based on our analysis of 1) gastric cancer patients surgically treated between 1972-1980 in Niigata Prefecture, 2) mortality statistics, and 3) 381 gastric cancer patients older than 70 years operated in our hospital, we concluded that 1) The number of geriatric surgical patients with gastric cancer, especially early gastric cancer, is on the increase in Niigata Prefecture. 2) The mortality from gastric cancer has decreased markedly in 70-74 year-old patients, has declined slightly in patient ranging from 75-79 years and has increased in patients over 80 years. 3) In patients between 75-79 years and 70-74 years, surgery as almost equally safe and their long-term survival rate was similar. Our results suggest that gastric cancer patients ranging between 75-79 years should be operated as radically as younger patients.