Multivisceral resections have been performed on 35 patients with primary and 45 with recurrent rectal cancer. Lethality was 3.7%, morbidity was 9%. Macroscopic adhesions were confirmed histologically as tumorous in 66% of the additionally resected organs. Tumor invasion, tumor recurrence and surgical radicality were found as statistically significant prognostic factors. In radically resected primary tumors 5-yr-survival was 49%. Multivisceral resection in rectal cancer is possible with low morbidity and lethality and potentially curative in primary tumors. In recurrent tumors multivisceral resections are frequently palliative.