This study was made to compare the clinicopathological findings of 46 patients over 80 years of age (Group 80') operated on for gastric cancer with those of 137 patients aged between 60 and 69 (Group 60'), and to clarify the factors that influence the postoperative complications in Group 80'. Although there were no differences in location of lesion, macroscopic type and histological type between both groups, the incidence of early gastric cancer in Group 80' was lower than in Group 60'. Although there were no differences in the extent of gastrectomy, degree of lymphnode dissection and incidence of combined resection of other organs in Group 80' were lower than in Group 60'. Preoperative complications such as circulatory and neurological dis-eases were more commonly seen in Group 80'. As to postoperative complications, pancreatic juice leakage and anastomotic leakage occurred more frequently in Group 60'. On the other hand, respiratory and neurological complications were more common in Group 80'. In Group 80', the postoperative mortality rate was significantly higher in those whose operation time was longer than 3 hours, those who underwent total gastrectomy or proximal gastrectomy, and those who underwent combined resection of other organs. The cumulative survival rate in Group 80' was significantly lower than that in Group 60', but there was no difference in the relative survival rate.