The records of 143 patients with gallbladder carcinoma operatively treated between 1975 and 1995 were retrospectively reviewed. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom and was present in 103 patients (72%). Jaundice was present in 83 patients (58%) and weight loss in 68 (47.5%). Pre-operative diagnosis was made in 40.5% of the patients. Surgical procedures included cholecystectomy alone (16.8%), cholecystectomy with resection of the hepatic bed and lymphadenectomy (11%), cholecystectomy with biliary drainage (57.3%), and exploration with biopsy (14%). Surgery was considered as curative in 21.5% of the patients. Overall five-year survival rate was 11%. Actuarial 5-year survival rate was 100%, 29% and 23% in patients with T1, T2 and T3 tumors. The five-year survival rate was nil in patients with T4 and T5 cancers.