Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma or bile duct cancer is a cancer cell that grows in the bile ducts. The function of the bile duct itself is to collect and drain fluid from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine, in order to digest fats in the diet.

Cancer of the bile ducts can occur in any part of the bile ducts. Cancer that appears in the bile duct in the liver is called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. These cancers are sometimes classified as liver cancer. While the cancer in the bile ducts outside the liver is called cholangiocarcinoma or chilangiocarcinoma perihilal. Cancer of the bile ducts can also grow under the bile ducts near the small intestine and are referred to as distal cholangiocarcinoma.

Symptoms of Cholangiocarcinoma

Symptoms that occur in patients with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) are:

- Fever with temperature reaching 38 degrees Cesus or more.

- Shivering.

- Body feels tired.

- Weight loss and and appetite decreased.

- Light colored stools with dark urine.

- The stomach becomes swollen and painful.

- The skin feels very itchy.

- The color of the eyes and skin becomes yellow.

- Nausea and vomiting.

Causes of Cholangiocarcinoma

Most cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) can develop without any obvious cause. However, this cancer occurs when cells in the bile ducts have mutations in their DNA. As a result, the cells grow uncontrollably and form tumors or cancer cells in large quantities.

Although the exact cause is unknown, some conditions may increase the risk of developing bile duct cancer. These conditions include:

- Abnormalities of bile ducts from birth, such as colcedocyst cysts.

- Liver problems, such as chronic liver disease, parasitic infections of the liver, or biliary stones in the liver.

- Exposure to certain chemicals or toxins, such as thorium dioxide (ThO2).

- Elderly people have a higher risk of bile duct cancer.

Smoking habit.

Diagnosis of Cholangiocarcinoma

The diagnosis procedure of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) includes physical examination and a series of tests. Implementation of these tests include:

- Blood test to see the signs of cancer by examining levels of cancer antigen 19-9 in the blood and liver organ function.

- Scan tests, such as ultrasound, CT scan or MRI to see abnormal conditions that indicate bile duct cancer.

- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or bile duct endoscopy to check the bile ducts to the small intestine.

- Biopsy by taking samples of biliary tract tissue for examination by microscope.

- Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) to see more detailed bile ducts.