Purpose: The correlation between age and the outcome following an operation for colorectal cancer (CRC) has not yet been determined. We studied the appropriate operation for elderly CRC patients based upon the assessment of preoperative risk factors.
Methods: Seventy patients with Dukes' stages B or C CRC (more than 80 years old: aged group) and 66 stage-matched patients (50-69 years old: control group) were studied. The preoperative condition, the grade of surgical intervention, the perioperative activities of daily life (ADL), and the survival rate were compared between the two groups.
Results: The preoperative conditions were significantly worse and the frequencies of patients with a deterioration in ADL during the perioperative period were significantly higher in the aged group. In the aged group, the peripheral lymphocyte count was significantly lower in patients with major postoperative complications, and the 1.0% forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0%) was significantly lower in patients with a deterioration in ADL. The low grade of surgical intervention tended to be related to a poor prognosis in rectal cancer of the aged group.
Conclusion: The indications for operation in elderly CRC patients should be determined based upon an appropriate assessment of preoperative conditions, such as the lymphocyte count and FEV1.0%.