Abstract: Background and purpose: With the aging of population, the percentage of the elderly patients with oral and maxillofacial cancers increased year by year. The main treatment method is surgery. In this study, we aimed to evaluate effects of surgery in patients aged 80 and older with oral and maxillofacial cancers.  Methods: The clinical data were collected from 139 patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant cancers from Jan. 2013 to Aug. 2017 in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, including preoperative evaluation, operation risk, perioperative complications. Results: Among the 139 cases, the average age was 84.3 (80-98) years, squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 78.4%. Patients received surgical procedures, and the major repair methods included random flap (sliding flap and rotation flap), pedicle flap ［pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and submentalental island flap (SMIF)］, and free flap transplantation ［anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) and radial forearm free flap (RFFF)］. No patient died. The incidence of postoperative complications was 26.6%. Conclusion: Age should not be considered a contraindication by itself. The proper preoperative assessment and operative tolerance could determine the surgical options, and good therapeutic effects can be achieved in patients aged 80 and older with oral and maxillofacial cancers

Key words: Elderly patients, Oral and maxillofacial cancers, Surgical treatment, Preoperative period