The incidence of gastric neoplasms is increasing in the elderly population, and a rational method of treatment for gastric cancer in the elderly is needed to improve survival. The purpose of the present study was to clarify whether the patient's age is an independent prognostic factor and to determine clinicopathological characteristics in the elderly.

Curative or palliative surgery for gastric cancer was carried out on 706 patients in Chosun University Hospital from March 1995 to February 2002. They were divided into the following two groups: elderly group (75 years or older) and control group (under 74 years old). The clinicopathologic features of these patients were reviewed retrospectively, and a multivariate analysis was performed.

There was no difference in clinicopathological appearances between the two groups, and the postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were similar in the two groups. The two groups showed similar survival rates.

In this study, age was not a prognostic factor in surgery for gastric cancer. In the elderly, an oncologically correct surgical procedure can safely be prosecuted with satisfactory early and late results.