Gallbladder cancer is a disease associated with high mortality. Improvement of early diagnosis is of great significance to prolong the survival. Risk factors for gallbladder cancer include gallstones, cholelithiasis, anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction, focal mucosal microcalcifications, and et al.Advances in endoscopic ultrasonography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatogram and helical computed tomography have enhanced preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder cancer. Understanding the characteristics of gallbladder cancer with the help of multiple imaging modalities can facilitate accurate diagnosis and may also help in sorting patients to undergo extended resection or an alternative therapy. Resection is currently the most effective and only potentially curative treatment for gallbladder cancer.However, owing to its non-specific symptoms, gallbladder cancer patients often suffer from late diagnosis, and few patients are suitable for surgery. Other treatment strategies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, percutaneous biliary drainage, palliative surgery are used in patients with advanced gallbladder cancer.For jaundiced gallbladder cancer patients, preoperative biliary drainage is still under debate. Since biliary inflammation adversely affects the prognosis of gallbladder cancer patients,antibiotics with high concentration in bile is recommended for selected patients. Palliative treatment and molecular target therapy are promising for patients with inoperable gallbladder cancer.