[Geriatric tumor surgery--change in the patient sample].

The comparison of our surgical tumor patients over 65 years of age treated in 1973-1974 or 1993-1994 showed the following results: increased average age and more patients with a greater unfavorable preoperative risk profile, an increase in colorectal tumors, a decrease in gastric carcinomas, no changes in tumor stages, more frequent sphincter-preserving operations for rectal tumors, an increase in the curative resection rate, lower mortality and shorter hospital stays. A curative resection of a malignant tumor is justified in the majority of elderly patients and should be performed considering the post-operative quality of life.