Previous studies have reached disparate conclusions on the issue of whether or not granulomas confer any protection against recurrence of Crohn's disease after operation. In an attempt to resolve this controversy, we have examined postoperative recurrence rates in 102 patients with Crohn's disease. There were no differences in cumulative postoperative recurrence-free survival between the 53 patients with granulomas present in the resected specimens and the 49 patients without granulomas. It was concluded that the presence of granulomas in resected specimens of Crohn's disease exerts no independent influence on the rate of postoperative recurrence.