Background: Gallbladder cancer is the leading cause of death of cancer among women in Chile. Detection of early forms of the disease during the pathological study of the cholecystectomy specimen is common. The management of these cases, specially those with invasion of the muscular layer is under discussion. Aim: To analyze the clinical features of patients with gallbladder cancer and muscular layer invasion and their prognosis after a simple cholecystectomy. Patients and methods: We studied a series of 46 patients with gallbladder cancer and invasion of the muscular layer. In the majority of cases diagnosis was performed at the moment of specimen study. Eleven patients underwent reoperation. Of these, ten underwent lymphadenectomy and liver resection while one patient underwent resection of the cystic duct stump. Results: During follow up, five patients died as a consequence of gallbladder cancer. Overall survival was 78%, with no differences between patients subjected or not a new operation. Conclusions: Gallbladder cancer with muscular infiltration has a good prognosis, independent of the type of therapy (Rev Méd Chile 2004; 132: 183-8)