[Surgical treatment for primary lung cancer in octogenarians: the role of limited operations]

34 octogenarians out of 1,214 cases treated surgically for primary lung cancer in our unit between 1957 and 1996. 12 patients underwent limited operation because they had one or more risk factors besides their age actor. We could suppress postoperative complications in octogenarians. 5-year survival rate in octogenarians was comparable to that in younger patients. The octogenarians underwent limited operations were better than those had lobectomies in 5-year survival rate and postoperative quality of life. So our surgical strategy for primary lung cancer in octogenarians was evaluated to be appropriate. However, we should improve the radicality of limited operation furthermore because 5-year survival rate for stage I non-small cell lung cancer was poor in octogenarians than in younger patients.