RESUMEN
We analyse a series of 38 cases of gallbladder carcinoma. All cases presented gallbladder stones and IVB was the most frequent TNM stage--29 cases (76.31%). Preoperative diagnosis was made in 9 cases (23.69%), all of them by ultrasound examination. Resective procedures was possible in 8 cases (21%), whereas radical cholecystectomy was possible only in 3 cases (7.9%). The histological findings were: adenocarcinoma in 28 cases (73.67%), papillary adenocarcinoma in 3 cases (7.89%) and undifferentiated carcinoma in 7 cases (18.4%). We conclude that the late presentation due to the absence of specific symptoms and the poor diagnosis performance were responsible for the failure of detection in early stages and therefore for the poor prognosis of gallbladder carcinoma.