Factors Determining the Choice of Surgical Procedure in Elderly Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND In the elderly patients, optimal surgical treatment can be difficult to achieve, because of comorbidity. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the preferred surgical management in this patient group. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted between April 2008 and March 2015 that included patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) aged ≥ 75 years. RESULTS We included 44 patients who underwent partial resection (n = 20) or lobectomy (n = 24). There were no significant differences between the two groups on most variables, except for some character. Survival analysis revealed a significant difference in overall survival (OS) between the two groups; however, no significant differences existed in the disease-free survival or in the OS for stage I disease. Postoperative complications led to poor prognoses. Cox regression analysis revealed statistical significance for the Brinkman Index, the ratio of the pulmonary artery diameter to the ascending aorta diameter (PA:A), and the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient. Only the PA:A ratio remained significant after multivariate analysis, with a higher ratio associated with better survival. CONCLUSION In elderly patients with NSCLC, surgical resection should not be denied because of age alone. However, partial resection should be favored to lobectomy when possible.