The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic factors affecting the survival of gallbladder carcinoma. Methods: Two hundred five patients with gallbladder carcinoma, who were admitted to Severance Hospital, Yonsei University from January 1986 to December 1996, were reviewed. Results: According to TNM stage, the mean survival time of patients in stage I (13 cases), II (13 cases), III (41 cases), IVA (54 cases) and IVB (110 cases) was 111, 40, 28, 10, and 4 months, respectively. There was a significant decrease in the survival time according to the stage progression. The median survival time of the patients was 16 months in 86 cases of surgical treatment, and 4 months in 145 cases of conservative treatment (p<0.001). The mean survival time in curative resection group (42 cases) was 84 months, which was longer than 10 months in palliative group (44 cases) (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the survival time according to the types of curative resection or the postoperative treatment. Conclusions: The survival factors of the gallbladder carcinoma were TNM stage of patients and treatment modalities. However, the type of curative surgery and postoperative treatment in curative resection group did not affect the survival. (Kor J Gastroenterol 2000;35:367 - 377)