OBJECTIVE: Radical cystectomy is the standard treatment for invasive bladder carcinoma in elderly patients at major surgical centers. As yet no data are available as to the question whether radical surgery on the genitourinary tract of patients over 75 can also be carried out at municipal hospitals with comparable intra and postoperative morbidity, and respective mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 452 radical cystectomies and urinary diversions as ileum conduits or ileum neobladders due to transitional cell carcinoma were carried out at three municipal hospitals between 1992 and 2004. At the time of the surgery, 44 patients (9.7%) were > 75 (75-84) (Group-1), by comparison 408 patients were younger than 75 (35-74) (Group-2). Comparisons are to be made between the groups for 30 day mortality, 30 day reoperation rate, early complication rate (< 3 months), late complication rate (> 3 months), progression-free survival, and overall survival. The results are to be discussed in view of the international literature. Mean follow-up was 49 months (median: 38 months). RESULTS: The perioperative mortality in Group-1 was 2.3% compared to 2.5% in Group-2 (p = 0.942). There was no significant difference in the perioperative mortality with regard to the different case load of the evaluated hospital. There were no significant group differences regarding the 30 day reoperation rate, early and late complications. Progression-free and overall survival of all patients after 5 years was 56.1% and 53.6% respectively; here again the differences between the age groups was not significant (p = 0.384 and p = 0.210). Our results for patients > 75 do not differ from the published data of large clinics with a high cystectomy frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that radical cystectomy on elderly patients can also be carried out in municipal hospitals with acceptable mortality and morbidity rates. Of prime importance is a careful patient selection based on comorbidity scores and possibly geriatric assessment.