Andreea Seicean, M.P.H., of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, and colleagues conducted a prospective study using data from the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality-Improvement Project database from 2006 to 2010. Outcomes were assessed for 134 patients aged 75 years and older and 134 propensity score-matched patients aged 40 to 74 years of age who underwent craniotomy for resection of malignant brain tumors.

The researchers found no increase in the odds for poorer short-term outcomes with advanced age. There were no significant differences in minor or major complications between the groups, and no significant differences in return to the operating room or 30-day mortality.

"Contrary to common assumptions, our analysis of a large, prospective, multi-institutional database suggests that advanced age does not predispose individuals undergoing aggressive surgical therapy for primary or metastatic intracranial tumor to increased risk for operative or short-term postoperative morbidity or mortality," the authors write.

Abstract
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