The Italian experience with Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM) started in 1991. Until April, 1994, 122 patients were operated on by such a technique in six centres. The surgical protocol in the 66 patients with benign lesions was similar to that described by Buess. In contrast to the German experience, the indications of TEM for cancer have been extended to more advanced tumours and in 22 out of 56 patients with rectal carcinoma adjuvant radiation- or radiation-chemotherapy have been applied according to various protocols. In 88% of TEM for rectal tumours the operation has been carried out according to a full-thickness technique, with or without perirectal fat excision. Postoperative morbidity of TEM for adenoma was 15.8% and that of TEM for carcinoma 29.6%. There was no postoperative mortality. Local recurrence rate after TEM for adenoma was 10.5%, while that after TEM for cancer was 9.25%. No local recurrence has been reported among patients treated with a combination of TEM and adjuvant radiation treatments. The median follow-up in the 6 centres ranged between 7 and 16 months. A randomised prospective clinical trial has been planned in order to evaluate the role of transanal endoscopic microsurgery in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer.