The influence of age on resection rates and postoperative mortality in 2773 patients with gastric cancer.

Resection rates and postoperative mortality rates were studied in patients with gastric cancer, diagnosed from 1982 until 1992 in the southwestern area of the Netherlands. Overall, 51% of the patients underwent resection. For patients aged 0-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80 years and over, resection rates were 64, 55, 54 and 35%, respectively. Tumours located in the cardia were less often resected than tumours of the antrum, 39 versus 71%. The postoperative mortality after resectional operations was 8.3%; 9.2% for men and 6.7% for women. The operative risk increased markedly after the age of 70 years; for patients under 70 years of age, the rate was 3.4% compared with 12.4% for those aged 70 years and older. These results indicate that elderly patients can be operated on at an acceptable risk, and that palliative resections may be considered, especially in patients younger than 70 years.