A Review of Surgical Treatment Cases of Gastric Cancer in the Elderly in a Rural Area of Japan / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

A total of 478 resected gastric cancer cases were studied. The male-female ratio was 1.6, -294 males and 184 females. The patients were divided into two groups, namely, the elderly group (patients aged 70 and over) and the non-elderly group (patients aged 69 and below). In the elderly group males were predominant over females. The number of elderly patients accounted for 34.1% of the total number of stomach cancer cases. This percentage is higher than the national average. In the elderly group, cases detected by stomach health screening or health diagnosis tests were a few, but many cases were in stage IV. The number of inoperable cases was somewhat high, radical gastrectomy was performed on a few of the patients, and the resection rate was somewhat low. A tendency was observed for multiple cancer focuses ; in regard to the regions of occupation or spreading and tissue type, the upper region was less likely and the lower region was more likely to be affected, the anterior wall and the circle were likely to be affected. A tendency was observed for the localization of highly differentiated tissue in the patients. Although no difference was observed in the direct surgical mortality rate, the 5 year survival rate was unfavorable, suggesting the patients might have died due to other diseases. In the elderly group, those who suffered from diseases and preoperative complications comprised 92% of the total, and abnormalities during preoperative examinations were detected in 96% of these patients. Postoperative complications developed in 42%. Postoperatively, psychological problems must be taken into consideration. In elderly patients who are operable, although it is desirable to actively perform surgery aiming at radical operations, it is thought necessary to cope carefully with resection of the stomach. If a radical operation is performed after carefully evaluating preoperative risks and with adequate preparations, it is thought possible for elderly patients to achieve favorable therapeutic results and improvement in their QOL differing little from non-elderly patients.