OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical features and outcomes of unsupected gallbladder carcinoma ( UGC) detected during or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

METHODSMedical records of 8005 patients, who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between June 1993 and June 2011, were reviewed. Patients that pathologically diagnosed as UGC were retrospectively studied in terms of clinical features, preoperative and postoperative diagnosis, surviving period, and complications.

RESULTSIn the 8005 patients who received laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 36 (0.45%) were diagnosed as UGC during (25 patients) or after (11 patients) laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The gallbladder cancer was staged as T1 in 16 patients, T2 in 11 patients, and T3 in 9 patients. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of all the patients were 88.9% (32/36), 63.9% (23/36), and 58.3% (21/36). The 5-year survival rates in T1 stage, T2 stage, and T3 stage patients were 100%, 75.0%, and 0.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe survival rate of UGC is associated with tumor stage, not with operation approaches. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is appropriate for T1 patients.