Purpose: Laparoscopic complete mesorectal excision (CME) can be used for the treatment of colon cancer. This study was designed to assess short-term and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic CME in elderly colon cancer patients.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed colon cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic CME at a single medical center between January 2014 and January 2019. Short-term surgical outcomes and long-term survival outcomes were analyzed, including overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).
Results: A total of 152 patients were included in the study, of which 54 were classified as elderly group (≥70 years) and 98 were classified as younger group (<70 years). The elderly group had more Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) scores >3. The short-term results of the two groups were similar. The overall complication and major complication rates were comparable between the two groups. The 5-year OS rates of the elderly and younger groups were 67% and 71%, respectively (p=0.846). The 5-year DFS rates in the elderly and younger groups were 59% and 62%, respectively (p=0.995).
Conclusion: Compared with younger patients, laparoscopic CME in elderly colon cancer patients can achieve similar short-term and long-term outcomes. For elderly colon cancer patients, age is not a contraindication to laparoscopic CME.