Abstract: Radical resection of rectal carcinoma was performed on 205 patients from Jan.1986 to Dec.1992.Following-up survey showed that local recurrence occured in 68 cases(33.17%).The recurrence time varies from 3 months to 62 months after operation.Most recurrence patients (89.71%)occrued within 36 months. The study shows that incidence of local recurrence is not related with operative method and pathologic type, but is directly related with the stage of the disease, location of the primary lesion and resection range of distal bowel.It is suggested that early operation and extensive resection margin around the primary tumor be the key for prevention of local recurrence.