【Abstract】〓Objective〓To explore short-term outcomes and prognosis of laparoscopic versus open resection for colorectal cancer in elderly patients. Methods〓The clinicopathological and follow-up data of elderly patients with colorectal cancer in the No.1 People's Hospital of Guangzhou from Jun..2003 to Dec..2013 were analyzed retrospectively,.and operative and oncological outcomes were compared respectively between two groups. Results〓A total of 104 patients were included in the study. Sixty-three patients underwent laparoscopic surgery,.whereas 41 underwent open surgery..There were no statistically significant differences of baseline data and follow up period between laparoscopic surgery and open surgery group..Compared with the open surgery group,.the laparoscopic surgery group showed significantly less blood loss,.postoperative activity time,.earlier resumption of an oral diet..No significant differences were observed in overall mortality, cancer-related mortality and recurrence rate. As survival analysis showed,.there were no significant differences in cumulative overall survival, cancer-related survival and recurrence-free rates. Conclusion Laparoscopic surgery in elderly colorectal cancer patients is superior to open surgery in terms of short-term outcomes and not inferior to open surgery in terms of overall survival.