Postoperative mortality after cancer surgery in octogenarians and nonagenarians: results from a series of 5,390 patients.

Background: To support decisions about surgical treatment of elderly patients with cancer, population-based estimates of postoperative mortality (POM) rates are required.

Methods: Electronic records from the Rotterdam Cancer Registry were retrieved for octogenarians and nonagenarians who underwent resection in the period 1987-2000. POM was defined as death within 30 days of resection and both elective and emergency operations were included.