Data on the examination of 260 radically-treated patients with rectal tumors in the inferior ampullar segment are presented. 107 patients received surgery alone, another 75--preoperative radiotherapy, while still another 78--preoperative thermoradiotherapy. Combined treatment of stage III tumors significantly reduced recurrence incidence and was followed by significant increase in recurrence-free survival rates. In cases of tumor disseminated to the regional lymph nodes, recurrence-free survival was observed after preoperative thermoradiation only.