Management of colon cancer in the elderly : a population-based study

• AIM: although the median age of patients diagnosed with colon cancer is above 70 years, little is known about specific characteristics and management in the elderly. The aim of the study was to define characteristics of colon cancer in elderly patients and compare the quality of preoperative assessment and surgery with that of younger patients undergoing surgery for colon cancer.METHOD: data on 15.255 patients diagnosed with colon cancer between 2007 and 2010 were retrieved from the Swedish National Colon Cancer Register. Of these, 12.959 underwent surgical resection, 6.141 were 75 years or older while 6.818 were younger. The χ(2) test, Mann-Whitney U test and uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used for comparison between groups.RESULTS: older patients were more likely to be female (54% older/48% younger) and have right-sided cancer (60% older/49% younger). Among patients who underwent resection, the elderly were less often evaluated regarding tumour stage prior to surgery (59% older/65% younger) and they were less often evaluated at a multidisciplinary team conference (26% older/34% younger). Elderly patients more frequently underwent emergency surgery (22% older/19% younger) despite having an earlier cancer stage. When adjusted for stage, fewer elderly patients underwent a radical curative procedure (OR for non-curative resection 1.19; 95% CI 1.06-1.33)CONCLUSION: routine management of patients with colon cancer is age-dependent. Patients 75 years and older are less often completely staged and less often evaluated at a multi-disciplinary team conference prior to surgery. Adjusted for stage, fewer elderly patients undergo curative resection.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

cancer

epidemiology

surgery

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)