Assessment of English literatures evidence toward the development of clinical guidelines for elderly patients with lung cancer

The purpose of this study is that we propose the clinical practice guidelines for elderly patients with lung cancer in Japan. The results and conclusions are as follows: 1) As pneumonectomy in patients over the age of 70 carries a considerable risk of severe postoperative morbidity and mortality, it should be avoided. 2) Although it is no significant differences between 3 groups (age < 70, 71-79, 80 < or =) in the 30 days mortality rates, less invasive surgery decrease them. 3) Age is not the important prognostic factor, however, operative procedure should be choose over the estimation of surgical risk and the potential long-term benefit.