Management of villous tumours of the rectum

The villous tumours of the rectum seen during a 7‐year period are reviewed. The majority of these have been treated by ligature and excision or by diathermy snare. Both these methods have been used for localized turmours and the papillomas have been destroyed with a low rate of recurrence. Fulguration has not been used as a primary method of treatment but has been kept for the treatment of small residual foci of tumour. Larger papillomas require more extensive surgery, and an example of trans‐sphincteric excision is described.