[Retroperitoneal diseases and geriatric-gynecologic laparatomy (author's transl)]

24 cases are described in which retroperitoneal processes were operated on for primarily gynecologic reasons in women of at least 60 years of age. They include 6 sarcomas, 3 neurinomas, 1 cyst, 1 fibroma, 1 lipoma, 1 congenital sacciform kidney, 1 hydronephrosis, 3 pancreatic carcinomas, 2 renal carcinomas, 1 ureteral cyst and 4 metastases of various malignomas. These cases were gathered in 18 West Berlin Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology during a 10-year period. The post-operative mortality rate was 37.5% (9 deaths); this is probably due to the relatively low incidence of symptoms and signs associated with retroperitoneal diseases and their anatomical localization. Finally, new procedures for the diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumors are indicated.