Bile Duct Cancer Health Video

Video Transcript

SUSAN MCGLADERRY, BM, BCH, MRCP: Hello. My name is Dr. Susan McGladerry. I'm the medical director from the FirstMed Centers in Budapest, Hungary. I'm going to give you some information on bile duct cancer, the other name for this cholangiocarcinoma. It's a rare malignant or cancerous growth in one of the ducts that carries bile from the liver to the small intestine. These tumors are usually slow growing and spread rather late, but diagnosis is often made late and many of these tumors are therefore too advanced at the time of diagnosis to be removed surgically. It typically affects old men and women, most cases over the age of 65 years and there's increased risk in patients who have disorders of the biliary system. What are the symptoms of bile duct cancer? Usually, it's due to the physical effect of the tumor blocking the bile ducts. In this case, there's progressive jaundice, a yellow pigmentation of the eyes and the skin. The stools become pale colored; there may be itching, right upper abdominal pain that radiates to the back. There may also be loss of weight, loss of appetite, and sometimes fever and chills. How are these tumors diagnosed? The main physical sign is the presence of jaundice and lab tests may show abnormalities of the liver function. It's necessary to make diagnostic imaging test to identify the problem and this includes things like abdominal CT, ultrasound, and the procedure known as ERCP which is an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram. The aim of treatment is to clear the cancer and the obstruction it causes. Surgical removal of the tumor is the treatment of choice and may cure. Chemotherapy or radiation after surgery may decrease the risk of recurrence. Endoscopic therapy or surgery can clear obstructions in the biliary tree by stenting. For patients with unresectable disease, radiation therapy may be beneficial and sometimes also chemotherapy. So, when should you contact your health care provider? You should always contact your doctor if you have jaundice.