[Oncologic surgery in advanced age: results in colorectal carcinoma].

Over a period of 20 years (1974-1993) 2489 patients under 70 years of age and 1032 patients of at least 70 years of age underwent curative colorectal carcinoma resection. The older patient group was characterized by a significant increase in physical handicaps, concomitant diseases and preoperative complications leading to a rise in postoperative mortality to 7.4% (patients under 70 years of age: 3.0%). Age-corrected 10-years survival rates demonstrate that after a non-complicated postoperative course long term prognosis is excellent even in advanced age.