Time trends in diagnostic strategy, treatment, and prognosis of gastric cancer in the elderly: a population based study.

The impact of changes in diagnostic strategies for gastric cancer and attitudes towards surgery in elderly patients is not known. A population-based series of 842 gastric cancers diagnosed between 1976 and 1993 in patients aged 70 and older in Côte-dOr, France, was used to establish trends in diagnostic strategy, treatment, and prognosis. The use of endoscopy alone increased from 3% (1976-78) to 81% (1991-93). This trend was initially associated with a decrease in the use of x-ray alone, then with a decrease in the use of both x-ray and endoscopy. The proportion of resection for cure increased from 26% during 1976-78 to 43% during 1991-93 (P < 0.001). The proportion of cancers not extending beyond the gastric wall increased from 12% to 24% (P < 0.05). Operative mortality decreased from 38.7% (1976-78) to 13.3% (1991-93) and the corresponding 3-year crude survival rate rose from 7% to 18%. Improvements in the care of gastric cancer in elderly patients have been achieved, but further progress is warranted.