overview
Gallbladder, liver and biliary tract
Gallbladder and Bile Duct Open popup dialog
Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer that forms in the slender tubes (bile ducts) that carry digestive bile. The biliary tract connects your liver to your gallbladder and small intestine. This condition, also known as biliary tract cancer, is a rare form of cancer that mainly affects people over the age of 50, although it can occur at any age.Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) Treatment Hyderabad
- Doctors divide cholangiocarcinoma into different types, depending on where the cancer occurs in the bile ducts:
- Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma occurs in parts of the bile ducts of the liver and is sometimes classified as a type of liver cancer.
Hilar cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the bile ducts just outside the liver. This type is also known as perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Distal cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the part of the bile duct that is closest to the small intestine.
The reasons
Cholangiocarcinoma occurs when bile duct cells develop changes (mutations) in their DNA – the material that contains instructions for every chemical process in your body. DNA mutations cause changes in the instructions. One result is that cells grow out of control and eventually form a tumor – a mass of cancer cells. It is not known what causes the genetic mutations that lead to cancer.Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) Treatment Hyderabad
Risk factors
Some of the factors that can increase your risk for cholangiocarcinoma include:
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis. This disease leads to hardening and scarring of the biliary tract.
- Chronic liver disease. Scarring of the liver caused by a history of chronic liver disease increases the risk of cholangiocarcinoma.
- Problems with the bile duct at birth. People born with a bile duct cyst, which causes dilated and irregular bile ducts, are at increased risk for cholangiocarcinoma.
- A liver parasite. In parts of Southeast Asia, cholangiocarcinoma is linked to an infection of the liver fluke, which can occur when eating raw or undercooked fish.
- An older age. Cholangiocarcinoma is most common in adults over the age of 50.
prevention
There is no way to prevent cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). However, you can reduce your risk of developing illness if you:
- Stop smoking. Smoking is associated with an increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma. If you smoke, quit. If you’ve tried to quit smoking in the past and haven’t, talk to your doctor about strategies to help you quit smoking.
- Lower your risk of liver disease. Chronic liver disease is associated with an increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma. Some causes of liver disease cannot be avoided, but others can. Do what you can to take care of your liver.Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) Treatment Hyderabad