Bile Duct CancerThe bile ducts are the tubes connecting the liver and gall bladder to the small intestine (small bowel). Bile is a fluid made by the liver and stored in the gall bladder. Its main function is to break down fats during their digestion in the small bowel. In people who have had their gall bladder removed, bile flows directly into the small intestine. The bile ducts and gall bladder are known as the biliary system.
Diagram showing the position of the bile ductCancer is classified according to the type of cell from which it starts. Cancer of the biliary system almost always starts in a type of tissue called glandular tissue and is then known as adenocarcinoma.
If the cancer starts in the part of the bile ducts contained within the liver it is known as intra-hepatic. If it starts in the area of the bile ducts outside the liver it is known as extra-hepatic. This information concentrates mainly on extra-hepatic bile duct cancers. Intra-hepatic bile duct cancers may be treated like primary liver cancer .
Causes and possible risk factorsThe cause of most bile duct cancers is unknown. There are a number of risk factors that can increase your risk of developing bile duct cancer. These are:Inflammatory bowel disease People who have a chronic inflammatory bowel condition, known as ulcerative colitis, are at an increased risk of developing this type of cancer.Abnormal bile ducts People who are born with (congenital) abnormalities of the bile ducts, such as choledochal cysts, are more at risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma.Infection In Africa and Asia, infection with a parasite known as the liver fluke is thought to cause a large number of bile duct cancers.Bile duct cancer, like other cancers, is not infectious and cannot be passed on to other people.
Signs and symptomsIf cancer develops in the bile ducts it may block the flow of bile from the liver to the intestine. This causes the bile to flow back into the blood and body tissues, and leads to the skin and whites of the eyes becoming yellow (known as jaundice). The urine also becomes a dark yellow colour and stools (bowel motions) are pale. The skin may become itchy. Mild discomfort in the abdomen, loss of appetite , high temperatures (fevers) and weight loss may also occur. These symptoms can be caused by many things other than bile duct cancer, but any jaundice or any symptoms which get worse or last for a few weeks should always be checked by your doctor.How it is diagnosed
Usually you begin by seeing your GP, who will examine you. They will refer you to a hospital specialist for any tests that may be necessary and for expert advice and treatment.At the hospital the doctor will ask you about your general health and any previous medical problems. They will also examine you and take blood samples to check your general health and that your liver is working properly.
The following tests are commonly used to diagnose bile duct cancer:Ultrasound scan Sound waves are used to make up a picture of the bile ducts and surrounding organs. These scans are done in the hospital's scanning department. You will be asked not to eat, and to drink clear fluids only (nothing fizzy or milky) for four to six hours before the scan. Once you are lying comfortably on your back, a gel is spread onto your abdomen. A small device, like a microphone, is then rubbed over the area. The sound waves are converted into a picture using a computer. The test is completely painless and takes 15-20 minutes.CT (computerised tomography) scan A CT scan takes a series of x-rays which are fed into a computer to build up a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body. The scan is painless but takes from 10 to 30 minutes. CT scans use a small amount of radiation, which will be very unlikely to harm you and will not harm anyone you come into contact with. You will be aske d not to eat or drink for at least four hours before the scan.Most people who have a CT scan are given a drink or injection to allow particular areas to be seen more clearly. Before having the injection or drink, it is important to tell the person doing this test if you are allergic to iodine or have asthma. You will probably be able to go home as soon as the scan is over.MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) This test is similar to a CT scan, but uses magnetic fields instead of x-rays. During the scan you will be asked to lie very still on a couch inside a metal cylinder. The cylinder is a very powerful magnet, so before going into the room you should remove all metal belongings. You should also tell your doctor if you have ever worked with metal or in the metal industry or if you have any metal inside your body (for example, a cardiac monitor, pacemaker, surgical clips, or bone pins). You may not be able to have an MRI because of the magnetic fields.You will usually be given an injection to allow the pictures to be seen more clearly.The test can take about 30 minutes and is completely painless, although the machine is quite noisy. You will be given earplugs or headphones. If you don't like enclosed spaces you may find the machine claustrophobic. A two-way intercom enables you to talk with the people controlling the scanner.
Staging and grading StagingThe stage of a cancer is a term used to describe its size and whether it hasspread beyond its original site. Knowing the particular type and the stage of the cancer helps the doctors to decide on the most appropriate treatment.Cancer can spread in the body, either in the blood stream or through the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the body's defence against infection and disease. The system is made up of a network of lymph glands (also known as lymph nodes) that are linked by fine ducts containing lymph fluid. Your doctors will usually look at the lymph nodes close to the biliary system in order to find the stage of your cancer.
Stage 1A The cancer is contained within the bile duct. Stage 1B The cancer has spread through the wall of the bile duct but has not spread into nearby lymph nodes or other structures. Stage 2A The cancer has spread into the liver, pancreas or gall bladder or to the nearby blood vessels, but not the lymph nodes. Stage 2B The cancer has spread into nearby lymph nodes. Stage 3 The cancer is affecting the main blood vessels that take blood to and from the liver, or it has spread into the small or large bowel, the stomach or the abdominal wall. Lymph nodes in the abdomen may also be affected. Stage 4 The cancer has spread to distant parts of the body such as the lungs.
If the cancer comes back after initial treatment, this is known as recurrent cancer.Grading
Grading refers to the appearance of the cancer cells under the microscope and gives an idea of how quickly the cancer may develop. Low-grade means that the cancer cells look very like normal cells; they are usually slow-growing and are less likely to spread. In high-grade tumours the cells look very abnormal, are likely to grow more quickly and are more likely to spread.Treatment overview
The type of treatment that you are given will depend on a number of factors, including your general health, the position and size of the cancer in the bile duct and whether the cancer has spread beyond the bile duct.Consent
Before you have any treatment, your doctor will give you full information about what it involves and explain the aims of the treatment to you. They will usually ask you to sign a form saying that you give permission (consent) for the hospital staff to give you the treatment. No medical treatment can be given without your consent.Benefits and disadvantages of treatment
Treatment can be given for different reasons and the potential benefits will vary for each person. If you have been offered treatment that aims to cure your cancer, deciding whether to have the treatment may not be difficult. However, if a cure is not possible and the treatment is to control the cancer for a period of time, it may be more difficult to decide whether or not to go ahead.
If you feel that you can't make a decision about treatment when it is first explained to you, you can always ask for more time to decide.You are free to choose not to have the treatment and the staff can explain what may happen if you don't have it. You don't have to give a reason for not wanting to have treatment, but it can be helpful to let the staff know your concerns so that they can give you the best advice.Surgery
Surgery may be used to remove the cancer if it has not spread beyond the bile duct. It is not always possible to carry out surgery, as the bile duct is in a difficult position and it may be impossible to remove the cancer completely. The decision about whether surgery is possible or not depends on the results of the tests described above. If surgery is recommended then you will be referred to a surgeon with a special interest in this rare cancer.There are different operations depending upon how big the cancer is and whether it has begun to spread into nearby tissues.
Removal of the bile ducts If the cancer is small and contained within the ducts, then just the bile ducts containing the cancer are removed and the remaining ducts in the liver are joined to the small bowel, allowing the bile to flow again.
Partial liver resection If the cancer has begun to spread into the liver, the affected part of the liver is removed, along with the bile ducts.
Whipple's If the cancer is larger and has spread into nearby structures, then the bile ducts, part of the stomach, part of the duodenum (small bowel), the pancreas, gall bladder and the surrounding lymph nodes are all removed.After your operation you may stay in an intensive-care ward for the first couple of days. You will then be moved to a general ward until you recover. Most people need to be in hospital for up to two weeks after this type of operation.
Bypass surgery Sometimes it isn't possible to remove the tumour and other procedures may be performed to relieve the blockage (obstruction) and allow the bile to go into the intestine. The jaundice will then clear up.The surgical method of dealing with blockage of the bile duct involves joining the gall bladder (or the bile duct) to part of your small bowel. This bypasses the blocked part of the bile duct and allows the bile to flow from the liver into the intestine. This operation is called a cholecysto-jejunostomy or cholecysto-duodenostomy if the gall bladder is used. It is called a hepatico-jejunostomy if the bile duct is used.
Another type of operation may be necessary if the duodenum is also blocked. This is called a gastrojejunostomy and involves connecting a piece of the small bowel (the jejunum) to the stomach to bypass the duodenum. This will stop the persistent vomiting (being sick) that can occasionally happen if the cancer blocks the duodenum.
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