Gastric cancer in the elderly

The elderly population is expanding and, from the early 1990s, one-quarter of newly diagnosed gastric cancer patients are over 80 years of age. The main risk factors for post-operative complications and mortality are total gastrectomy, radical lymphadenectomy, splenectomy and/or pancreatectomy and these should, therefore, not be practised routinely. Good long-term results can be achieved with careful monitoring of concomitant disease.