OBJECTIVE Laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer is currently under discussion. Results of large, randomized studies will not be available for a number of years yet. This study analyses the results of such resections in consecutive patients operated on by unselected surgeons. METHODS A prospective, observational, multicenter study was initiated on August 1, 1995, in the German-speaking countries of Europe. One year after initiation of the study, findings are presented with respect to the quality of oncologic resections. RESULTS Of 500 operations, 231 (46 percent) were performed for cancer, 167 (33 percent) with a curative intent. The most common curative resections were as follows: 63 anterior rectum resections (38 percent), 51 sigmoid resections (30 percent), and 27 abdominoperineal resections (16 percent). Segmental resections were performed in 20 patients (12 percent). Intraoperative tumor spillage was reported in 2 percent. Mean number of lymph nodes harvested was 13 (confidence interval, 5-95 percent; range, 11.5-14.6) and positive lymph nodes harvested was 2.2 (confidence interval, 5-95 percent; range, 0.9-3.4). Significant differences were noted between participating centers in terms of number of lymph nodes resected (P < 0.0001). Distal and proximal resection margins were tumor-free in every case. Lateral margins were tumor free when examined. In the case of 63 curative anterior resections, the mean distal resection margin was 39 (confidence interval, 5-95 percent; range, 33-45) mm, and in 8 of these resections, it was less than 20 min. Mean blood loss was 344 (confidence interval, 5-95 percent; 292-396) ml, and 21 percent of patients received blood transfusion. CONCLUSIONS These data document that the average quality of laparoscopic colorectal procedures for cancer is satisfactory but differs among surgeons.