| Bile duct cancer treatment in India is provided at | | | | pancreas or gall bladder or to the nearby blood |
| state-of-the-art cancer hospitals offering the | | | | vessels, but not the lymph nodes. |
| latest cancer treatments, world-class technologies, | | | | Stage 2B: - The cancer has spread into nearby |
| and supportive therapies all under one roof. | | | | lymph nodes. |
| Comprehensive treatment plans are created to | | | | Stage 3: - The cancer is affecting the main blood |
| meet patient’s personal needs as well as | | | | vessels that take blood to and from the liver, or |
| address the circumstances of his specific condition. | | | | it has spread into the small or large bowel, the |
| Bile duct cancer treatment in India is provided at | | | | stomach or the abdominal wall. Lymph nodes in |
| cancer treatment centers of India by teams of | | | | the abdomen may also be affected. |
| board certified doctors and friendly healthcare | | | | Stage 4: - The cancer has spread to distant parts |
| staff work actively to bring compassionate care. | | | | of the body such as the lungs |
| Bile duct cancer: | | | | If the cancer comes back after initial treatment, |
| Bile duct cancer, or cholangiocarcinoma, is a | | | | this is known as recurrent cancer. |
| malignant tumor of the bile ducts within the liver | | | | Grading |
| (intrahepatic), or leading from the liver to the small | | | | Grading refers to the appearance of the cancer |
| intestine (extrahepatic). It is a rare tumor with | | | | cells under the microscope and gives an idea of |
| poor outcome for most patients. If the cancer | | | | how quickly the cancer may develop. Low-grade |
| starts in the part of the bile ducts contained within | | | | means that the cancer cells look very like normal |
| the liver it is known as intra-hepatic. If it starts in | | | | cells; they are usually slow-growing and are less |
| the area of the bile ducts outside the liver it is | | | | likely to spread. In high-grade tumors the cells look |
| known as extra-hepatic. This information | | | | very abnormal, are likely to grow more quickly |
| concentrates mainly on extra-hepatic bile duct | | | | and are more likely to spread. |
| cancers. Intra-hepatic bile duct cancers may be | | | | Bile Duct cancer surgery: |
| treated like primary liver cancer. | | | | The following types of surgery are used to treat |
| Causes and symptoms | | | | extrahepatic bile duct cancer: |
| A number of risk factors are associated with the | | | | Removal of the bile duct: If the tumor is small and |
| development of bile duct cancer: | | | | only in the bile duct, the entire bile duct may be |
| Primary sclerosing cholangitis. This disease is | | | | removed. A new duct is made by connecting the |
| characterized by extensive scarring of the biliary | | | | duct openings in the liver to the intestine. Lymph |
| tract, sometimes associated with inflammatory | | | | nodes are removed and viewed under a |
| bowel disease. | | | | microscope to see if they contain cancer. |
| Choledochal cysts. These are abnormal dilatations | | | | Partial hepatectomy: Removal of the part of the |
| of the biliary tract that usually form during fetal | | | | liver where cancer is found. The part removed |
| development. There is evidence that these cysts | | | | may be a wedge of tissue, an entire lobe, or a |
| may rarely arise during adulthood. | | | | larger part of the liver, along with some normal |
| Hepatolithiasis. This is the condition of stone | | | | tissue around it. |
| formation within the liver (not including gallbladder | | | | Whipple procedure: A surgical procedure in which |
| stones). | | | | the head of the pancreas, the gallbladder, part of |
| Liver flukes. Parasitic infection with certain worms | | | | the stomach, part of the small intestine, and the |
| is thought to be at least partially responsible for | | | | bile duct are removed. Enough of the pancreas is |
| the higher prevalence of bile duct cancer in | | | | left to make digestive juices and insulin. |
| Southeast Asia. | | | | Surgical biliary bypass: If the tumor cannot be |
| Thorotrast. This is a chemical that was previously | | | | removed but is blocking the small intestine and |
| injected intravenously during certain types of x | | | | causing bile to build up in the gallbladder, a biliary |
| rays. It is not in use anymore. Exposure to | | | | bypass may be done. During this operation, the |
| Thorotrast has been implicated in the | | | | gallbladder or bile duct will be cut and sewn to the |
| development of cancer of the liver as well as the | | | | small intestine to create a new pathway around |
| bile ducts. | | | | the blocked area. This procedure helps to relieve |
| Staging and grading of Bile Duct cancer | | | | jaundice caused by the build-up of bile. |
| Stage 1A: - The cancer is contained within the bile | | | | Stent placement: If the tumor is blocking the bile |
| duct. | | | | duct, a stent (a thin tube) may be placed in the |
| Stage 1B: - The cancer has spread through the | | | | duct to drain bile that has built up in the area. The |
| wall of the bile duct but has not spread into | | | | stent may drain to the outside of the body or it |
| nearby lymph nodes or other structures. | | | | may go around the blocked area and drain the bile |
| Stage 2A: - The cancer has spread into the liver, | | | | into the small intestine. |