[Long-term survival after resection surgery for cancer of the lung in the elderly patient].

Five hundred and twenty (520) patients with lung resection for cancer and known follow-up were studied. The aim of the study was to analyse long-term results in relation to the age of the patients. Two hundred and forty (240) cases were less than 55 years old, 227 were aged between 55 and 65 years, 53 were aged over 65 years. Type of lung resection, extent of resection, histological type, Degree of Nuclear Differentiation of primary tumours (NG), Degree of Lymphocytic Infiltration of primary tumours (LI) and Post-Surgical Stage were tested to assay their influence on long-term survival. The data were statistically analysed by the Number Cruncher Statistical System (NCSS 5.5). Univariate (Logrank Test) and multivariate analyses (Cox's Proportional Hazards Model for survival data) were used to test the influence of age and the above-mentioned prognostic factors on survival. The results of the study demonstrated that age doesn't influence long-term prognosis while Post-Surgical Stage (p < 0.00001), NG (p < 0.0001) and LI (p < 0.00001) are related to survival as independent variables. Then patients should not be denied lung resection on the basis of age alone.