Objectives: As the central venous catheters (CVCs) have been inserted frequent,ly in patients with advanced malignant disease, it becomes necessary to investigate the safety and the complications of the CVCs and to search for the ways to improve them. Methods: The complications related with CVCs and the durations of function of them were analyzed via retrospective review of medical records of 87 patients to whom CVCs were inserted for the treatment of cancer at the departrnent. of internal medicine, Korea Cancer Center Hospital. Results: Acute complications of catheter inser1ion were pneumothorax and pain at the insertion site. Infection, thrombosis and mechanical teraring were the major long term complications. 32(36.8%) catheters were removed by development of complications. Among 87 evaluable cases, CVCs could be maintained with function for 4+to 878+days (median 401 days). There were significantly less infection (40 % vs. 72% ) and longer duration of function(median not. reached vs. 151 days) with Chemoport than with Hickman catheter(p=0.002). Conclusion. CVCs could be inserted and maintained safely for considerahle period of time in patients with advanced malignancy. Further effort should be given to prevent catheter-related complications such as infection and thrombosis and to provide the long term patency.