[Basic pathology of sigma and rectum in geriatric-gynaecological laparotomies]

This is a report on 49 women with sigmoiditis and 66 women with sigmoido-rectal carcinoma. These cases were collected in 18 women hospitals in West-Berlin over a period of 10 years, from 1960 until 1969. All patients were at least 60 years old. In most of these cases laparotomy was performed for gynaecological reasons. The post-operative mortality was 40.9%. It is pointed out that the whole spectrum of diagnostic procedures was not fully utilized; today laparoscopies and ultrasound are added when indicated. Inflammatory processes of the sigma as well as sigmoido-rectal carcinoma are typical geriatrical diseases that will increase with rising life expectancy thus constituting an important part of the differential-diagnostic section of geriatric gynaecology.