Biliary Tract Cancer Quiz

Cancer of the bile ducts is also known as "cholangiocarcinoma." It is a cancer that arises in the bile ducts inside the liver or in the ducts that connect the liver to the gall bladder and intestines. Risk factors include genetic conditions, a condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis, chronic liver disease, infection with liver worms (flukes), smoking, diabetes, and age >50. Patients often come to their physicians with abdominal pain, jaundice (yellow skin and eyeballs), itchiness, and weight loss.

• Skin or eyes turning yellow

• Right upper abdominal pain

• Skin Itching

• Black, shiny stool

• Fatigue

• Abdominal pain

• Unintentional weight loss of more than 5% or 1-2kg in a month

• Loss of appetite

This cancer is treated by a team of of oncologists including surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. A biopsy is usually performed to confirm the diagnosis. The treatment choices depend on stage, location, and other factors which are revealed by ultrasounds, CT scans, special scans and procedures, and MRIs. Treatments may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and various kinds of radiation therapy. Surgery is used less often. If larger bile ducts are blocked by tumor, temporary or permanent stents (tubes) may be inserted to bypass the blockage.