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