Bile Duct Cancer

Bile Duct Cancer - Also known by the scientific name of cholangiocarcinoma, bile duct cancer is a rare type of cancer that forms in a bile duct. A bile duct is a thin tube that transports bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine, where it aids in digesting food. Bile duct cancer may be found inside the liver (intrahepatic bile duct cancer) and outside the liver (extrahepatic bile duct cancer). The majority of bile duct cancers are adenocarcinomas. Bile duct adenocarcinomas develop from the mucus glands that line the inside of the bile duct.  

Though symptoms of bile duct cancer vary from person to person, some of the most common symptoms include the following: abdominal pain (possibly accompanied by loss of weight and/or appetite), jaundice, and itching. A number of factors influence bile duct cancer treatment options, such as the patient's health, the progression of the illness, and patient preference. The most common bile duct cancer treatment options are chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.

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