Objective To enhance survival rate and treatment effect for advanced gallbladder cancer (GBC). MethodsEighty cases of advanced GBC were treated surgically from January 1990 to June 2001.Seventyone cases had obstructive jaundice, 15 had palpable abdominal mass. Extended radical cholecystectomy was performed in 39 cases of advanced GBC in which the tumor invaded the surrounding organs or tissues but without distant metastasis. ResultsFollowup showed that the survival period was between 8 and 37 months (average 18.1 months), 1, 2 and 3year survival rates were 43.6%, 20.5% and 5.1% respectively. Palliative operations were performed in other 41 advanced GBC cases with distant metastasis. All of the patients died within one year. Conclusion This result suggests that extended radical cholecystectomy is effective for advanced GBC.