Background:

Gallbladder epidermoid carcinoma is rare and more common in women over 55 years of age.

Aim:

To report the features of 15 patients with gallbladder epidermoid carcinoma.

Material and Methods:

Review of medical records of patients with gallbladder cancer in an oncology service.

Results:

Of 207 patients with gallbladder cancer, 15patients aged 53-72years, 93% women had an epidermoid component in their cancer. Forty percent were diabetic and 33% had cholelithiasis. All had locoregional extension of the tumor. A cholecystectomy was done in nine patients (using open surgery in six). In six patients, only a biopsy was done. Median survival was 4.2 months.

Conclusions:

Gallbladder epidermoid carcinoma is uncommon and has a bad prognosis.