Lung surgery in the elderly today

The ever increasing life expectancy in the general population has prompted the multiplication of institutional reports focusing on the surgical management of the "elderly" with lung cancer. In fact, there is no consensus on the age cutoff, the risk assessment protocols, and, modalities for continuation of postsurgical care. Moreover, the definition of age in the biomolecular era is destined to alter our current concept of elderly surgical candidates by implementing prognostic group stratification based on genomic profiling. The latter, along with an unprecedented attempt at reducing functional thresholds for surgery, the introduction of a holistic approach to geriatrics, and, the consolidation and further refinement of minimally invasive surgery will represent a cultural revolution for the surgeon dealing with the elderly lung cancer patient. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.