Analysis of clinical diagnosis and therapy in elderly patients with pancreatic cancer

Objective: To evaluate and investigate clinical chracterization and therapy in elderly patients with pancreatic cancer. Methods: Clinical manifestation, diagnosis and therapy in 33 elderly patients with pancreatic cancer were analized. End point was followed up. Results: Abdominal pain as first symptom of pancreatic cancer occurred in 20 cases （60%）, non-symptom patients with pancreatic cancer occurred only in 3 cases. There were 17 cases in which tumors located in pancreatic head （52%）. Among 33 patients, 30 cases were dead and 3 cases still alive. Survival time in these patients was from 1 month to 22 months. Mean survival time was 4.5 months. 3 patients were survival for over 12 months. There were 2 cases in which the tumor resection was performed surgically. Chemotherapy using gemcitabine was performed in 6 patients. There were 2 patients who had partial regression. Conclutions:It is important to pay attention to the diagnosis and therapy in elderly pancreatic cancer patients. Gemcitabine therapy can be used in advanced pancreatic cancer.