Influence of age on prognosis and management of patients with colorectal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To see if the prognosis and management differed in patients with carcinoma of colon and rectum above and below 65 years of age. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital, Turkey. SUBJECTS: 822 consecutive patients with colorectal carcinoma operated on between 1984 and 1994, 565 of whom were less than 65, and 257 of whom were 65 or more. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Factors that affected prognosis and management. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in mode of presentation, site and type of tumour, histological grade, incidence of curative and palliative operations, and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Obstruction and perforation were more common in the elderly group (p<0.0001). The postoperative (30 day) mortality was 3% in the younger group (20/565) and 7% in the older group (17/257). It was higher in those who were operated on as emergencies but was not significantly related to age. The actuarial five- year survival rates for older and younger patients were 33% and 45%, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Age alone has no characteristic effect on the treatment of colorectal carcinoma.