Pancreatic cancer: Surgery is a feasible therapeutic option for elderly patients

Abstract

Abstract Background Compromised physiological reserve, comorbidities, and the natural history of pancreatic cancer may deny pancreatic resection from elderly patients. We evaluated outcomes of elderly patients amenable to pancreatic surgery. Methods The medical records of all patients who underwent pancreatic resection at our institution (1995-2007) were retrospectively reviewed. Patient, tumor, and outcomes characteristics in elderly patients aged ≥ 70 years were compared to a younger cohort ( Results Of 460 patients who had surgery for pancreatic neoplasm, 166 (36%) aged ≥ 70y. Compared to patients Conclusions Properly selected elderly patients can undergo pancreatic resection with acceptable post-operative morbidity and mortality rates. Long term survival is achievable even in the presence of adenocarcinoma and therefore surgery should be seriously considered in these patients.