Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 28, 2013; 19(24): 3831-3840
Published online Jun 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i24.3831
Active treatments are a rational approach for hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly patients
Takeshi Suda, Aiko Nagashima, Shyunsaku Takahashi, Tsutomu Kanefuji, Kenya Kamimura, Yasushi Tamura, Masaaki Takamura, Masato Igarashi, Hirokazu Kawai, Satoshi Yamagiwa, Minoru Nomoto, Yutaka Aoyagi
Takeshi Suda, Aiko Nagashima, Shyunsaku Takahashi, Tsutomu Kanefuji, Kenya Kamimura, Yasushi Tamura, Masaaki Takamura, Masato Igarashi, Hirokazu Kawai, Satoshi Yamagiwa, Minoru Nomoto, Yutaka Aoyagi, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Niigata 951-8122, Japan
Author contributions: Suda T designed the research, analyzed the data and wrote the paper; Nagashima A, Takahashi S, Kanefuji T, Kamimura K, Tamura Y, Takamura M, Igarashi M, Kawai H and Yamagiwa S collected the data; Nomoto M and Aoyagi Y critically discussed the paper based on their expertise.
Correspondence to: Dr. Takeshi Suda, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Niigata 951-8122, Japan. suda@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-25-2272207 Fax: +81-25-2270776
Received: January 4, 2013
Revised: February 10, 2013
Accepted: April 28, 2013
Published online: June 28, 2013
Processing time: 175 Days and 4.9 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Progressive population aging worldwide demands consensus development for decision making to treat elderly patients. A simple comparison of survival days is confounded by aging; therefore, age compensation is mandatory to evaluate survival benefits among different age groups. In this study, age difference was compensated by life expectancy in a hepatocellular carcinoma cohort. The authors suggested that age itself might not be a critical determinant for the selection of a therapeutic option. This study emphasizes the importance of clarifying risk determinants specific for elderly patients with respect to individual aspects and medical economy.