[Small rectal cancers, treatment and late results]

After a short survey of the literature concerned, it is pointed out that early findings of rectal carcinoma (T1 or Dukes' disease A orCSI + II according to Mason) can be removed locally in the unaffected tissue under observation of the strictest indication by transanal surgery or by posterior rectomy. In this procedure the surgical mortality is 0 per cent, the ten-year-survival can go up to 90 per cent. The own material described comprises 97 patients with an average age of 64.5 years.