Carcinoma of gallbladder is the most frequently encountered malignancy of the biliary system. Early diagnosis is very difficult and the tumour resection rate is low,and the prognosis of carcinoma of gallbladder is very poor. With the increasingly widespread acceptance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC),the number of cases of unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma (UGC) has increased. However,management of UGC is a difficult issue in the absence of established guidelines. High age and history of stones are the risk factors for gallbladder carcinoma and they are related to UGC. Surgical handling and pneumoperitoneum play an important role in the metastasis. The surgical approach used for cholecystectomy would not seem to influence the outcome in patients with UGC. The tumour stage is the most important prognostic factor. To understand UGC better, we review its clinical characteristics,investigation,prognosis and especially the recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.