Bile duct cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma)
Bile duct cancer is also called cholangiocarcinoma. There are 3 main types, depending on where in the bile ducts the cancer starts. They are:
intrahepatic bile duct cancer
perihilar bile duct cancer
distal bile duct cancer
This video shows where the bile ducts are and the different areas where bile duct cancer can develop. The video is 1 minute and 30 seconds long.
There are a number of small bile ducts in the liver. These join together to make larger ducts called the right and left hepatic duct.
Cancer that starts in the bile ducts in the liver is called intrahepatic bile duct cancer. It is a type of liver cancer.
Sometimes your doctor might find it difficult to tell if you have intrahepatic bile duct cancer, or cancer that started in the liver cells. Cancer that starts in the liver cells is called hepatocarcinoma. Your doctor might recommend taking a piece of tissue (biopsy) from the cancer to check which one it is.
The perihilar bile ducts are outside the liver. They leave the liver just before the left and right hepatic duct meet. And stop where the cystic duct joins the common hepatic duct.
Cancer that starts in the perihilar bile ducts is called perihilar bile duct cancer. It can also be called a Klatskin tumour or hilar cancer.
The distal bile ducts start where the cystic duct joins the common hepatic duct. This forms the common bile duct which takes bile to the small bowel.
Cancer that starts in this area is called distal bile duct cancer.
Your doctor might check the bile duct cancer cells to see if they have certain changes (mutations). These changes can help the cancer grow and divide. Knowing if the cancer has these changes can help your doctor decide on the best treatment for you.
This is a type of personalised medicine.
Read more about personalised medicine
The bile ducts are lined by a layer of tissue called epithelial tissue. There are different types of epithelial tissue cell. Most cancers of the bile duct start in epithelial cells that keep the tissue moist. These cancers are called adenocarcinomas.
There are a number of other types of bile duct cancer. These types are very rare and include:
Read more about these types of cancer
Non cancerous (benign) tumours can also grow in the bile ducts. They include bile duct and hamartomas. A bile duct hamartoma is where normal bile duct tissue overgrows to form a lump.
Find out about the differences between benign tumours and cancer
Last reviewed: 16 Jul 2024
Next review due: 16 Jul 2027
Bile duct cancer is when abnormal cells in the bile ducts divide in an uncontrolled way. It is also called cholangiocarcinoma.
Bile duct cancer symptoms may include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), itchy skin, dark urine and pale poo, high temperature and pain in your tummy (abdomen). Find out more.
The stage and grade of bile duct cancer help your doctor decide your treatment. They might use the number or TNM system, and the Bismuth-Corlette classification.
There are a number of tests you might have to find out the cause of your symptoms. Once bile duct cancer is diagnosed, you usually have further tests to find out how big the tumour is and whether it has spread.
Treatments for bile duct cancers include surgery, chemotherapy and treatments to control symptoms. The treatments you have depend on the stage of the cancer.
Bile duct cancer is also called cholangiocarcinoma. It is a rare type of cancer that develops in the small tubes that connect the liver and gallbladder to the small bowel.
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