The bile duct is a tube that connects the small intestine to the gallbladder and the liver. Its main function is to move the fluid bile from the liver and gallbladder down into the small intestine to aid in fat digestion. There are three different parts of the complete bile duct, which ranges from four to five inches in length. These three parts serve different functions in the assimilation of fat breakdown, and there are therefore three forms of bile duct cancers that can develop in the human body.
Types
The first type of bile duct cancer is hilar, or perihilar, bile duct cancer and is the most prevalent form. Tumors, called klatskin tumors, emerge at the joining of the hepatic ducts at the exit of the liver. The second type, distal bile duct cancer, is found in the lower bile duct near the small intestine. The third type of bile duct cancer is intraheptic bile duct cancer, which grows in the tiny bile duct branches within the liver.
Symptoms/Diagnosis
Jaundice, when the whites of the eyes and the skin begin to turn yellow, could be an indication of bile duct cancer. Other symptoms include pale stools, dark urine, itchy skin, appetite loss, fevers, weight loss and abdominal discomfort. Because these symptoms are also symptoms of other ailments, including gallstones, tests such as imaging tests, blood tests, ultrasounds, CT scans, biopsies and laparoscopic procedures are performed to ensure that the symptoms are the result of bile duct cancer.
Bile Duct Cancer Treatment
Although different bile duct cancer treatment teams will develop individualized treatment plans for their own patients, surgery to remove the bile duct cancer is the most common treatment. After, or in lieu of, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments may also be used. Acupuncture, yoga, meditation, aromatherapy and massage therapy treatments may also be used to reduce stress during the conventional medical treatments.
Bile Duct Cancer Risk Factors
Although the causes of many bile duct cancers are not specifically known, there are several risk factors that increase the likelihood of an individual developing bile duct cancer. Some of these risk factors include advanced age, obesity, cirrhosis of the liver, exposure to parasitic worms called liver flukes, bile duct abnormalities and ulcerative colitis. Other risk factors may include exposure to asbestos, radon, dioxin and other chemicals; hepatitis B or C infections; diabetes; smoking; and pancreatitis.
Considerations
Bile duct cancers are found mainly in persons in the Middle East and Asia due to widespread bile duct parasitic infection. In the United States, bile duct cancer is rare and affects about 2,000 to 3,000 people per year. While bile duct cancer can develop at any age, it mainly strikes people over 65 years old.
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