This report is a retrospective review of the authors' experience with colonic and rectal carcinoma in 164 patients from 1954 to 1968 with a five-year follow-up. The operative approach utilized principles of early vascular isolation, wied-colon and mesenteric reseciton, and minimal tumor manipulation in curative operations; palliative procedures were aggressively employed. Of the 164 patients, 104 with lesions almost equally divided between colon and rectum had resections with curative intent. The overall five-year survival rate after curative resection was 55%, and included eight hospital deaths that were usually related to cardiopulmonary complications. Lymph node involvement appreciably decreased the survival rate from 72% without node involvement to 39% with node involvement. Patients with rectal lesions experienced more favorable results than those with colonic lesions. Palliative procedures in 46 patients enhanced comfort, but few patients survived longer than one year. Wound and anastomotic complications were infrequent.