Most developed countries accepted the chronological age of 70years as the definition of “elderly” and there is a general consensus in clinical practice to consider this age as the threshold in risk assessment. This has a strong impact in the choice of treatment of these lung cancer patients. Indeed, more than 50% of these patients are over 70 and nearly 30% are over 75years old. Because of the increasing number of elderly patients that are generally fitter than in the past, the treatment options should rather be based on individual fitness, taking into account risks and benefits of the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
