Prognosis of pancreaticoduodenectomy in octogenarians for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with propensity score matched analysis

BACKGROUND This retrospective study investigates factors affecting surgical and oncological outcome after performing pancreaticoduodenectomy in octogenarian patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. METHODS From January 2009 to December 2018, patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were included. Data were analysed by comparing clinicopathological characteristics, complications, survival, recurrence, adjuvant treatment between octogenarians and the younger group. Propensity score matched analysis was performed due to the small size of the octogenarian group. RESULTS A total of 666 patients were included in this study and 24 (3.6%) were included in the octogenarian group. Short term complication rates (P = 0.119) and hospital stay (P = 0.839) did not differ between two groups. Overall survival between the two groups showed significant difference (<80 median 25 months versus ≥80 median 13 months, P = 0.045). However, after propensity score matched analysis, the two groups did not differ in overall survival (<80 median 18 months versus ≥80 median survival 16 months, P = 0.565) or disease-free survival (P = 0.471). Among the octogenarians, six patients survived longer than 24 months even without satisfying all favourable prognostic factors. CONCLUSION Considering the general condition of octogenarians diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, select patients should be treated more aggressively for the best chance of receiving curative treatment.