Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate operative risk factors, the mortality, morbidity and survival in old patients with colorectal cancer.
Methods: From 1160 patients with colorectal cancer, 398 patients aged 70 years or older, from 1970 to 2000, were followed-up. Dukes' classification, differentiation, sex, anatomical site and survival were compared with patients <70 years old.
Results: Long-term results have been proved to be similar both in young and old patients. Relative survival rate for patients aged 70-95 (70.5%) were similar to those for patients less than 70 years old (71.6%) and also comparable between male (72.3%) and female (68%) patients.
Conclusions: Elderly patients have a lower capacity to react to postoperative complications, but the relative survival is similar to younger patients. Advanced age alone should not be used as a criterion to deny surgery for colorectal cancer.