Bile Duct Cancer

Pronunciation

Definition

Cancer that forms in a bile duct. A bile duct is a tube that carries bile (fluid made by the liver that helps digest fat) between the liver and gallbladder and the intestine. Bile ducts include the common hepatic, cystic, and common bile ducts. Bile duct cancer may be found inside the liver (intrahepatic) or outside the liver (extrahepatic). (NCI Dictionary)

More information

Your liver makes a substance called bile that helps with digestion. Your gallbladder stores it until you need it to digest fat. Then your gallbladder pushes the bile into tubes called bile ducts. They carry the bile to your small intestine.

Bile duct cancer is rare. It can happen in the part of the bile duct that is outside or inside the liver. Cancer of the bile duct outside of the liver is much more common. Risk factors include inflammation of the bile duct, older age, some liver diseases, and exposure to certain chemicals.

Symptoms can include
• Jaundice
• Itchy skin
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss

Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. (NIH)

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