The treatment is dependent on findings on the localisation and the size. The aim of the therapy is the complete excision of the tumourous tissue. In smaller tumours the excision is carried out with a surgical margin. In larger tumours usually a combined radio-chemotherapy is carried out with the possibility of surgically excising left-over tumour tissue afterwards. Alternatively, a abdominoperineal rectal extirpation with adjuvant radio-chemotherapy is carried out.
Along with the surgical interventions often the continence is lost, so that an enterostoma is placed.