Cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the bile ducts that carry digestive fluid bile from the liver to the gallbladder and intestines. This condition is called bile duct cancer, which is an uncommon form of cancer. Different types of bile duct cancer treatments are available in RPS Hospital
Signs and symptoms of cholangiocarcinoma include:
- Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
- Intensely itchy skin
- White-colored stools
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Unintended weight loss
Cholangiocarcinoma into different types based on where the cancer occurs in the bile ducts:
- Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomaoccurs in the parts of the bile ducts within the liver and is sometimes classified as a type of liver cancer.
- Hilar cholangiocarcinomaoccurs in the bile ducts just outside of the liver. This type is also called perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.
- Distal cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the portion of the bile duct nearest the small intestine.
Cholangiocarcinoma is a type of tumor that is very difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
A Series of tests such as Liver Function Test , Tumour Markers , CECT Scan , MRI Scan will be done.
Based on these results , An ERCP(Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) may be needed to temporarily relieve jaundice or to take a biopsy.
Surgery – For very small bile duct cancers, the affected part of the bile duct is removed and joined with the intestine creating a new passage.
For more-advanced bile duct cancers, nearby liver tissue, pancreas tissue or lymph nodes may be removed as well.
