Abstract: As the development of society, people pay more attention to life quality. Nowadays, the therapeutic strategy to low or ultra-low rectal cancer has turned to anussaving as important as radical resection. Following the deep research in biology rule-rs of rectal cancer and a series of important theories, such as the 2 cm distal resection margin, total mesorectal excision technique, pelvic autonomic nerve preservation, variet-y of surgical methods can be chose in dealing with low or ultra-low rectal cancer a-nd achieving the goal of anus preservation. But, because of so many organs around the low or ultra-low rectal cancer and complicated anatomy, we should select patients strictly in order to avoid preserve one’s anus blindly. if not, patients will face the condition of residual neoplasms or severe incontinence.

Keywords: low rectal cancer; ultra-low rectal cancer; sphincter-preserving surgery