[Diseases of the large intestine in the aged. Constipation--diverticulosis--tumors--ischemia].

In no other part of the gastrointestinal tract is there such a wide range of incidence of pathological changes and such a marked increase in incidence with increasing age as the colorectum. In view of the increasing numbers of old people in the general population, therefore, gastroenterologists are increasingly being confronted with these diseases. The most important in practical terms are constipation, colonic diverticulosis with its complications, benign and malignant tumors, and the damages to the wall of the colon resulting from deficient perfusion. In the case of geriatric patients, the evaluation of the symptomatology, so important for the diagnosis, can be difficult, since the complaints may be overemphasized owing to anxious self-observation, or, owing to a reduction in cerebral capacity, are not adequately appreciated and reported.