Clinical features and prognostic factors for surgical treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in elderly patients

Purpose: This research was designed to analyze the clinical features and prognostic factors for surgical treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in elderly patients aged 70 years and over. Methods: The clinical data and follow-up data of 68 ESCC patients aged 70 years and over were collected. The characteristics of surgical treatment, perioperative complications, overall survival (OS), and the factors affecting survival were analyzed. Results: The incidence rate of postoperative complications was 36% and the mortality rate was 0% during and 90 days after surgery. The 5-year OS was 45.0% and the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 38.0%. Univariate analysis showed that gender, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), pathological type, tumor differentiation, depth of invasion, postoperative complications, and lymph node metastasis were the factors associated with OS. Multivariate analysis showed that pathologic type, depth of invasion, and lymph node metastasis were the independent predictors of OS. The ideal long-term survival in elderly patients with ESCC was achieved with radical resection. Conclusion: The pathological type and pathological stage were the important independent risk factors of prognosis.