Also known as Bile duct cancer
ABOUT THE DISEASE
The bile ducts connect the liver to the intestine and their function is to drain the bile. Bile is produced by liver and stored in gallbladder.
Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) is a rare form of cancer. It is almost always a type of cancer called adenocarcinoma, which starts in the lining of the bile duct. If cancer starts in the part of the bile ducts within the liver, it is known as intra-hepatic. If it starts in bile ducts outside the liver, it is known as extra-hepatic.
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SYMPTOMS
- • Loss of appetite and weight loss
- • Clay coloured stool
- • Chills
- • Jaundice
- • Pain in upper right part of abdomen sometimes radiating to the back
CAUSES
Some of the common risk factors associated with this disease are:
- Inflammatory conditions, as ulcerative colitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, etc.
- Abnormal bile ducts - congenital abnormalities such as choledochal cysts
- Infection with a parasite known as liver fluke
- Increasing age - mostly occurs in people above the age of 65
DIAGNOSIS
- Abdominal CT Scan
- Abdominal ultrasound
- MRI Scan
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
- PTC (percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography)
- Liver function tests
- Biopsy
TREATMENT METHODS
The treatment plan depends upon the stage of the cancer, the age of the patient and the exact location of the cancer.
If the cancer is at a very early stage (stage 1), only the bile ducts containing the cancer are removed. The remaining ducts in the liver are then joined to the small bowel, allowing the bile to flow again However if it has spread to the liver it might require:
- Partial liver resection
- Whipple`s procedure, if it has spread to nearby structures.
Sometimes if it is not possible to remove the tumor surgically, only the blockage is removed by placing a stent by the ERCP or PTC method.
This surgery might be followed up with Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy.
You may also like to learn about:
Gallbladder cancer
Liver cancer
Biliary atresia
Bile duct obstruction
Gallstones
Gall Bladder Polyps