Bile duct cancer is a rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the bile ducts. A network of tubes, called ducts, connects the liver, gallbladder and small intestine. This network begins in the liver where many small ducts collect bile (a fluid made by the liver to break down fats during digestion). The small ducts come together to form the right and left hepatic ducts, which lead out of the liver. The two ducts join outside the liver and form the common hepatic duct. The cystic duct connects the gallbladder to the common hepatic duct. Bile from the liver passes through the hepatic ducts, common hepatic duct, and cystic duct and is stored in the gallbladder. When food is being digested, bile stored in the gallbladder is released and passes through the cystic duct to the common bile duct and into the small intestine. Bile duct cancer is also called cholangiocarcinoma.
There are two types of bile duct cancer:
- Intrahepatic bile duct cancer: This type of cancer forms in the bile ducts inside the liver. Only a small number of bile duct cancers are intrahepatic. Intrahepatic bile duct cancers are also called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas.
- Extrahepatic bile duct cancer: The extrahepatic bile duct is made up of the hilum region and the distal region. Cancer can form in either region.
Signs & Symptoms
These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by bile duct cancer or by other conditions. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes)
- Dark urine
- Clay colored stool
- Pain in the abdomen
- Fever
- Itchy skin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss for an unknown reason
Treatment
Your OHC doctor will help you determine the best care plan for you. Treatment of resectable intrahepatic bile duct cancer may include:
- Surgery to remove the cancer, which may include partial hepatectomy. Embolization may be done before surgery
- Surgery followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy
Treatment of unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic intrahepatic bile duct cancer may include the following:
- Stent placement as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life
- External or internal radiation therapy as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life
- Chemotherapy uses drugs to strop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing them or stopping them from dividing
- A clinical trial of external radiation therapy combined with hyperthermia therapy, radiosensitizer drugs, or chemotherapy
Treatment of resectable perihilar bile duct cancer may include the following:
- Surgery to remove the cancer, which may include partial hepatectomy.
- Stent placement or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage as palliative therapy, to relieve jaundice and other symptoms and improve the quality of life.
- Surgery followed by radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
Treatment of unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic perihilar bile duct cancer may include the following:
- Stent placement or biliary bypass as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
- External or internal radiation therapy as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life
- Chemotherapy
- A clinical trial of external radiation therapy combined with hyperthermia therapy, radiosensitizer drugs, or chemotherapy
- A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by a liver transplant
Treatment of resectable distal extrahepatic bile duct cancer may include the following:
- Surgery to remove the cancer, which may include a Whipple procedure
- Stent placement or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage as palliative therapy, to relieve jaundice and other symptoms and improve the quality of life
- Surgery followed by radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
Treatment of unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic distal extrahepatic bile duct cancer may include the following:
- Stent placement or biliary bypass as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life
- External or internal radiation therapy as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life
- Chemotherapy
- A clinical trial of external radiation therapy combined with hyperthermia therapy, radiosensitizer drugs, or chemotherapy
