[Colorectal cancer in old age. Our experience]

Two hundred and thirty-three patients treated for colorectal cancer during the period 1976-1991 were divided into three groups (A: < 65 yr; B: 65-74 yr; C: > 74 yr) in order to perceive possible statistically significant differences in patients older than 75 years. Epidemiological features are similar among the three groups, while a greater diagnostic delay (p = 0.013), a higher incidence of emergency procedures (p = 0.006) and a more advanced AP stage were found in group C. The high anesthesiological risk determined a conservative surgical approach only in 4.1% of patients, while a curative resection was performed on 51% of group C vs 72.7% of group A (p = 0.016). Postoperative complications and mortality for curative resections were 28% and 12% in group C vs 24.6% and 2.9% in group A (p = n.s.); the overall 5 years survival rate was 62.9%, 51.7% and 42.2% in groups A, B, and C. It is concluded that age alone should not be considered as a contraindication to curative surgery for colorectal cancer, for life expectancy and quality are considerably worse in the elderly undergoing derivative surgery.