Safety of flexible bronchoscopy and clinical course for elderly patients with suspected primary lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: There have been several reports demonstrating the safety of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in the elderly, but none have focused specifically on lung cancer, which is a frequent biopsy procedure.

METHODS: In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the safety of FB and subsequent treatment in elderly patients with suspected primary lung cancer. Elderly patients were defined as 75 years of age or older.

RESULTS: A total of 141 patients, 77 in the elderly group and 64 in the nonelderly group, were reviewed. The median age of the elderly group was 80 years. Transbronchial lung biopsy was performed in more than 80% of all patients. Primary lung cancer was diagnosed in 42 (54.4%) of the elderly group and 35 (54.7%) of the nonelderly group (p = 0.38). Approximately 70% of the elderly patients with a confirmed diagnosis were treated, while more than half of the undiagnosed elderly patients had best supportive care. Complications such as bleeding, pneumothorax, fever, and pneumonia were similar in the elderly and nonelderly groups.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that flexible bronchoscopy can be performed as safely in the elderly as in the nonelderly. Furthermore, even elderly patients may have a greater chance of receiving treatment when a definitive diagnosis is achieved.