Abstract Recurrent disease continues to be a major problem in the management of pelvic neoplasms. Of 90 patients explored for pelvic exenteration, 45 were found unsuitable for the surgery because of nonresectable malignancy. Pain was the most common and most debilitating postoperative problem with progressive cancer. Additional radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy were not effective in treating recurrent disease, with 90% of the patients dead within 2 years. The findings would suggest that exenteration should not be performed for palliation.