Primary carcinoma of the gallbladder.

Carcinoma of the gallbladder is a rapidly progressive disease with a dismal prognosis. This very poor prognosis justifies an aggressive surgical approach for all potentially resectable lesions in stage II to stage V disease. Chemotherapy appears to be of some benefit, and its use for treatment of patients with early lesions is justified by the currently poor survival statistics. Radiotherapy at this point seems primarily to provide palliative relief.