Introduction
Nearly 50% of patients with nonesmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are aged 70 years,1 and the median age of patients undergoing surgical resection is 67 years.2 With an aging baby boomer population, the number of people in the United States aged > 65 years is expected to double by 2040, and it is anticipated that elderly patients will more frequently present for consideration of thoracic surgery.