Bile duct is most essential tube type organ for our digestive system. It involves the connection between three different organs including liver, gallbladder and intestines. This small tube passes the bile fluid from the liver to gallbladder. When the cells become abnormal in bile duct canal, it leads to bile duct cancer in patients. It is a rare and aggressive tumor, which cannot be cured easily.

This problem can affect you at any age and mainly occurs above 50 years of age. It can be treated through different medical approaches in which surgery is most essential for patients. If this option is not helpful, then a doctor might perform chemotherapy treatment or radiation therapy. A liver transplant method is also recommended for treating this health condition.

Types of Bile Duct Cancer

This health condition is of three different kinds. These are as follows:

1. Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma:

It mainly occurs in different parts of a bile duct inside the liver. This problem is uncommon and usually considered as liver cancer for patients.

2. Distal Cholangiocarcinoma:

A bile duct cancer usually develops outside the liver. This problem is rare and can affect 20 or 30 percent of individuals.

3. Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma:

It mostly happens at the left and right junction of a bile duct. This problem affects 50 or 60 percent of persons and its symptoms are similar to distal cholangiocarcinoma.

Symptoms

The symptoms of this health problem are as follows:

Nausea and Vomiting
Dark urine
Light-colored stools
Jaundice
Abdominal pain
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue
Fever and chills
Distended gallbladder
Pruritus
Appetite loss

Diagnosis

The diagnostic tests for this health condition are as follows:

1. Endoscopic Ultrasound:

An endoscopy is combined with an ultrasound to capture the images from the gastrointestinal tract. This procedure is the same as upper endoscopy and mainly useful to diagnose bile duct cancer in patients.

2. Angiography:

A doctor uses this procedure for the evaluation of the blockage in bile duct and visualization of blood vessels around the tumor.

3. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy:

A small and flexible instrument, known as endoscope, is inserted into an esophagus through the mouth or throat. It is attached with a camera for the examination of the digestive system. During this surgery, a patient might require a topic anesthetic or pain medicine.

4. Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiography:

A special doctor injects a contrast material into a bile duct through an endoscope. He or she may also take X-ray images to highlight the abnormalities associated with cancer. During this surgery, a biopsy test might also be performed for the identification of a bile duct tissue.

5. Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography:

A small needle is attached with one of the bile ducts and a contrast material is injected through this device. After injecting, a doctor might take X-ray images to view the biliary tree. This procedure is better than ERCP since it will allow direct access to a bile duct.

6. Cholangioscopy:

A special endoscopic device, known as, cholangioscopy is inserted inside the bile duct in which a doctor can view the tumor easily. This diagnostic procedure will be performed during an ERCP surgery.

Treatment Options

Bile duct cancer can be treated in several ways. These include the following:

a) Surgery:

It involves the removal of a bile duct fully or partially. This treatment approach is also recommended for the management of a blocked duct.

b) Chemotherapy:

The powerful medication drugs are used to destroy cancer cells or shrink tumors in patients. They can be infused into a vein and travel throughout the body. This surgical method is performed before a liver transplant surgery. It is helpful for advanced cholangiocarcinoma which helps to slow down the disease and relieve its signs and symptoms.

c) Immunotherapy:

A doctor uses checkpoint inhibitors which helps the immune system to fight with cancer cells. This treatment approach is mainly suitable for advanced bile duct cancer, when other techniques are unable to manage this health problem.

d) Radiation therapy:

The high-powered energy beams are used for the protection of cancer cells. It involves a machine in which radiation is directed towards the tumor.

A healthcare provider uses tiny beads of radiation, which may be implanted in the blood vessels. This surgery helps to shrink tumors and provides protection from this health condition.

e) Biliary drainage

A thin tube is placed into a bile duct to drain out the unhealthy bile fluid. This helps to relieve obstruction in this canal and alleviate symptoms like jaundice, itching and many more.