What is bile duct surgery?

Fawcett Memorial Hospital

Bile duct surgery helps remove bile duct tumors.

Continue Learning about Bile Duct Cancer, Extrahepatic

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

In this procedure, dye (contrast) is deposited so that the bile duct structures can be viewed by x-r...

Honor Society of Nursing (STTI)

Caring for someone with extrahepatic bile duct cancer could be daunting. Extrahepatic bile duct canc...

Honor Society of Nursing (STTI)

Extrahepatic bile duct cancer is a rare condition that is often already in advanced stages when it i...

Ajay K. Sahajpal, MD

Bile duct cancer, or cholangiocarcinoma, is a type of cancer that occurs or starts in the bile duct....

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Bile Duct Cancer, Extrahepatic

Usually found after it has spread, extrahepatic bile duct cancer is a rare but deadly disease of our digestive system. The extrahepatic bile duct, located just outside our liver, joins another duct to release bile from the gallbladder into the small intestine. Bile, a fluid produced by our liver, helps breakdown the fats we consume. Because its positioned deep in our bodies, the bile ducts location makes it difficult for developing tumors to be found early by your doctor. No blood tests currently exist that reliably detect bile duct cancers in its early stage. Once this cancer has spread, your 5-year survival rate drops from 30% to 2%. Jaundice, which turns your eyes and skin yellow, is the most common symptom of bile duct cancer. Itching, abdominal pain and loss of appetite are other noticeable symptoms. If you have other gastric problems, such as colitis or a history of pancreatic cancer, you are at greater risk for developing this disease.

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