Colorectal carcinoma in aged patients over 75 years old : Clinicopathological study

In a review of 358 patients with colorectal carcinoma resected at the department during the past 13 years between 1978 and 1990, 41 elderly patients over 75 years old were selected (served as aged group) and compared to younger patients under 74 years old (younger group) for clinicopathological features and prognosis. Elderly patients, who represented 11.5% of all cases, were predominantly females. There was no significant difference in the localization of the tumor, depth of invasion, lymphnode metastasis and lymphatic infiltration between the two groups. No significant difference was noted in macroscopic type, but a tendency of having type 5 was observed in the elderly group. The elderly group had a significantly smaller maximum diameter of the tumor. There was a lower tendency in the positive rate of vessel invasion in the elderly group. In the stage classification and the incidence of curative resection, there were no differences between the two groups. The cumulative survical rate after resection in the elderly group was relatively lower than that in the other group.