Because of an editing error, the article “Local Treatment of Rectal Cancer” (October 15, 1997, page 1622) contained an incorrect statement regarding treatment of rectal cancer. The first sentence of the abstract should read as follows: While abdominoperineal resection with permanent colostomy is still required for most distal rectal cancers, sphincter-saving local treatment by means of local excision, electrocoagulation or endocavitary contact radiation can be used for some highly selected distal tumors.