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Lung cancer surgery in elderly patients
V Cangemi1, P Volpino, N D'Andrea
11st Department of Surgery, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Italy.
Tumori
|May 1, 1996
Summary
Advanced age is not a barrier to pulmonary resection for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Multiple tumor nodules are the primary indicator of poor prognosis in NSCLC patients, regardless of age.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic surgery
- Oncology
- Geriatric medicine
Background:
- Bronchogenic carcinoma (lung cancer) is a leading cause of cancer death in individuals over 70.
- Rising incidence of lung cancer in the elderly population necessitates understanding age-specific treatment outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the incidence of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in elderly patients (over 70) versus younger patients.
- To evaluate the prognostic impact of various parameters in resected NSCLC patients stratified by age.
Main Methods:
- Preoperative selection excluded patients with severe comorbidities.
- Patients with NSCLC underwent pulmonary resection and were staged using UICC classification.
- Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on elderly and younger patient cohorts.
Main Results:
- Elderly NSCLC patients had a higher incidence of previous cancers, epidermoid carcinoma, and multiple tumor nodules.
- Postoperative mortality and survival rates were similar between age groups when stratified by stage.
- In early-stage NSCLC, epidermoid carcinoma and pneumonectomy were associated with worse outcomes in older patients.
Conclusions:
- Advanced age is not a contraindication for pulmonary resection in early-stage (I and II) NSCLC.
- Multiple tumor nodules are the sole independent prognostic factor for poor survival in NSCLC patients, irrespective of age, stage, or histology.