Bile Duct Cancer Specialist

What is bile duct cancer?

Bile duct cancer, or cholangiocarcinoma, is a type of cancer that forms in the tubes that connect your liver to your gallbladder. The cancer begins in cells that mutate abnormally and grow out of control, forming a tumor.

While bile duct cancer is a rare disease, you may be at increased risk for developing it due to:

• Aging
  
• Smoking
  
• Chronic liver disease
  
• Bile duct disease
  

You may be more likely to develop bile duct cancer if you have structural abnormalities in your bile duct.

What are the symptoms of bile duct cancer?

In the earliest stages of bile duct cancer, you may not experience any symptoms. However, as the condition progresses, you might develop:

• Persistent fatigue
  
• Abdominal pain
  
• Unexplained weight loss
  
• Intensely itchy skin
  
• Yellowed skin and eyes (jaundice)

Bile duct cancer can also cause white-colored stools.

The team at Interventional Endoscopy Associates PLLC can determine if your symptoms relate to bile cancer or another underlying condition with on-site diagnostic testing.

How is bile duct cancer diagnosed?

You may need liver function testing to evaluate the health and function of your liver. The Interventional Endoscopy Associates PLLC team may also use computed tomography (CT) scans, MRI, or other diagnostic testing to get a better look at your bile ducts.

The providers also offer endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This procedure uses a thin, flexible tube with an attached camera to see the structures in your digestive tract, including your bile ducts.

During your ERCP, your physician can perform a biopsy. They use special tools that fit through your endoscope to remove a sample of cells from your bile ducts to test for cancer.

How is bile duct cancer treated?

Treatment of your bile cancer depends on the extent of your disease. In many cases, an endoscopy is necessary to diagnose the cancer and restore appropriate drainage in your bile ducts.

Your provider at Interventional Endoscopy Associates PLLC may need to perform an ERCP and place a stent in your bile duct to relieve the blockage caused by the tumor.

Because bile duct cancer can be challenging to treat, you can expect your Interventional Endoscopy Associates PLLC provider to work closely with you on your treatment plan and customize it to your unique needs.

If you need treatment options for bile duct cancer, call the team at one of the Interventional Endoscopy Associates PLLC offices or schedule an appointment online today.