Background/Aims: The Krukenberg tumor is a metastatic or primary ovarian tumor of the signet-ring cell type. The incidence of this tumor are high in Korea, especially among relatively young age group, and the prognosis is poor. Therefore we tried to understand the relationship between the many factors and survival periods. Methods: We have observ d 12 cases of Krukenberg tumors from January 1984 to February 1997 in Holy Family Hospi:al and analyzed them. Results: The Krukenberg tumor accounts for 14.1% among the 85 malignat ovarian tumor and 3.5% among the 342 female gastric cancers found in our hospital during this period. The age distribution of the patients ranged from 25 to 50 years of age and the majority were under 40 years of age. The mean age was 34.2 years. Initial chief complaints were epiga.tric pain, lower abdominal pain, and lower abdominal mass. The sizes of Krukenberg tumors range from 7.2cm to 18.0cm and the tumors were usually bilateral. From diagnosis to death, the mean duration of survival was 6.7 months. But it was 9.0 months in cases where an operation on the ovaries and the primary site, were performed. In the group of ascites(8 cases), it was 2.6 months contrary to 14.8 months of ascites-free group. Conclusions: The prognosis of the Krukenberp tumor depends on early diagnosis and aggressive treatrnent. (Korean J Gastroenterol 1997; 30:597-603)