Local rectal cancer recurrences represent a great challenge, as surgical re-excisions or re-irradiation procedures are not always feasible. Moreover, scar or local recurrence is hard to elucidate with conventional diagnosis techniques. Emerging diagnostic and therapeutic procedures may be useful in this setting. A local rectal cancer recurrence radiofrequency ablation is reported. PET scan confirmed the recurrence, defined the target volume and assessed the success of the local therapy.