[Treatment of primary carcinoma of the gallbladder--report of 33 cases].

33 cases of primary carcinoma of the gallbladder confirmed by operation from 1962 to 1983 are reported. It comprises 2.7% of all patients undergoing cholecystectomy during the same period. One was diagnosed preoperatively. The lesions were resected in 17 (51.5%), of which 12 were associated with gallstones, and survived for an average of 21 months, while those unresected survived for 3 months. The overall 5-year survival rate was 4.5%. The correlation of the gallbladder cancer with cholecystitis, gallstones and other related organic changes is discussed. The diagnosis is difficult and prognosis remains poor unless the cancer is diagnosed by operation at early stage. For this reason, it is suggested that preventive cholecystectomy on elderly patients with cholecystitis and gallstones be likely to lead to better results.