Cholangiocarcinoma, also known as bile duct cancer, is a rare type of disease that involves: the formation of cancer cells in thin tubes, called bile ducts, which carry bile from the digestive fluid and connect the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.
Although it can occur at any age, it most commonly occurs in people over the age of 50. Its onset is a result of changes in the DNA of bile duct cells, as the Mayo Clinic reports. “A cell’s DNA contains instructions that tell it what to do. The changes tell the cells what to do. multiply uncontrollably and form a mass of cells (tumor) which can invade and destroy healthy tissues in the body,” they explain.
Symptoms of Cholangiocarcinoma
Among the most common symptoms in people with cholangiocarcinoma we find the following elements:
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Intense itching of the skin
- white stools
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain on the right side, just below the ribs
- Unintentional weight loss
- Fever
- night sweats
- dark urine
Types of Cholangiocarcinoma
Regardless, there are different types of cholangiocarcinoma depending on where it appears. Cancer occurs in the bile ducts:
- Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma It occurs in the bile duct parts of the liver and is sometimes classified as a type of liver cancer.
- Hilar cholangiocarcinoma It is produced in the bile ducts just outside the liver. This type is also called perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.
- Distal cholangiocarcinoma This occurs in the part of the bile duct closest to the small intestine. This type is also called extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
“Cholangiocarcinoma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, making successful treatment difficult.”experts say, so you should “see your doctor if you have persistent fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, or other signs and symptoms that bother you. The doctor may refer you to a digestive disease specialist (gastroenterologist).”
