ObjectiveTo explore the operation effect and clinicopathologic characteristics of elderly patients with gastric carcinoma(GC) and the relationship between prognosis and age.MethodsThe clinical data and treatment outcomes of 112 elderly patients suffered from GC( elderly group≥70 years of age) and 135 younger patients (control group ＜50 years of age) were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsThe elderly GC patients had more preoperative comorbidities,and a well or moderately differentiated histology(P ＜0.05).And more young patients had a poorly differentiated histology and signet ring cell carcinoma,using the Borrmann classification,type Ⅳ was more frequent in the young patients(P ＜0.05 ) ; Whereas there were no significant differences beween the two groups in other factors ( including liver function,tumor invasion,nodal involvement,hepatic metastasis,peritoneal dissemination,tumor stage,type of surgery,post operation complication and 5-year survival rates of elderly patients and young patients) ( all P ＜0.05).ConclusionOutcomes in elderly patients with gastric carcinoma were comparable to young patients.The important prognostic factor was whether the patients undergo a curative resection.For the elderly patients without preoperative comorbidities or with controlled comorbidities,gastrectomy was a safe and effective treatment.