Bile duct cancer is a seldom occurring form of cancer that affects the bile ducts in the body. The bile ducts are responsible for transporting bile from the liver to the small intestine, which is essential for digestion. The most common type of bile duct cancer is cholangiocarcinoma, which affects the cells lining the inside of the ducts. It’s estimated that around 2,000 new cases of bile duct cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States.

The main risk factor for developing bile duct cancer is chronic inflammation of the bile ducts, which can be caused by certain conditions such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and biliary atresia. Risk factors also include being over the age of 50, being male, a family history of bile duct cancer and a history of cirrhosis of the liver.

Unfortunately, since bile duct cancer is a rare form of cancer, signs and symptoms are often vague and difficult to distinguish from other more common conditions. Some of the most common symptoms include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), fatigue, itching, abdominal pain, unintentional weight loss, poor appetite, and pale-colored stools.

If symptoms are present, a doctor may order tests such as computed tomography (CT) scans, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) to obtain more detail about the size and extent of the cancer. A biopsy is also typically done to obtain a sample of tissue for laboratory testing. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, a treatment plan will be determined.

Surgery to remove the cancerous tissue is typically the first line of treatment, although radiation or chemotherapy may be necessary in some cases. Bile duct cancer may also be treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to unblock the bile ducts, or with ablation therapy which involves using energy or freezing to destroy the cancer cells. In some cases, clinical trials may be an option for treatment.

The prognosis for bile duct cancer depends largely on the stage and grade of the cancer, and can range from around 6 months to several years. Due to the rarity of bile duct cancer, additional research is needed to find new treatments and improve outcomes for those affected by this condition.