The results in patients with middle‐third rectal cancers treated by restorative resection have been predicted by careful examination of 546 abdominoperineal excision specimens, for tumour that might have been left behind if the more limited resection had been performed. It was found that in the patient who had such tumours the survival rate was very poor. It is, therefore, concluded that restorative resection for middle‐third rectal cancers, when technically possible, is justified on pathological grou