Objective To investigate the relationship of serum amyloid A protein (SAA) and surgical choice in low locally advanced rectal cancer (LLARC). Methods Fifty-two patients with LLARC at West China Hospital of Sichuan University were retrospectively analyzed. According to operative methods the patients were divided into 2 groups: curative surgery group (n=35) and palliative surgery group (n=17). Then, venous blood specimens were taken to measure preoperative serum SAA level. Results The analysis showed the option of surgical procedures was associated with preoperative SAA concentration (P=0.004) in LLARC, but irrelative with pathological characteristics and preoperative imaginologic staging (Pgt;0.05). High concentration of serum SAA (≥10.5 mg/L) significantly increased the odds of palliative surgery 〔OR=7.47, 95% CI (1.62-34.40), P＝0.010〕.Conclusion High level of SAA is a useful marker to predict the possibility of palliative surgery in LLARC, which is helpful to screen the patients for the surgical decision and adjuvant therapy.