Cholangiocarcinome

Cholangiocarcinoma or bile duct cancer is a cancer cell that develops in the bile duct. The function of the gallbladder itself is to collect and drain fluid from the liver and gallbladder into the small intestine, to digest the fat contained in food.

Bile duct cancer can occur anywhere in the bile duct. Cancer that appears in the liver bile duct is called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. This cancer is sometimes classified as liver cancer. While cancer of the bile ducts outside the liver is called hilar cholangiocarcinoma or perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Cancer of the bile duct can also develop under the bile duct near the small intestine and is called distal cholangiocarcinoma.


This cancer can enter the walls of the bile ducts and attack surrounding organs or tissues. At a more serious level, the cancer can spread to the surrounding lymph nodes. When the spread of bile duct cancer reaches other body organs, this disease state has entered the most serious phase. Spread usually occurs in the liver, abdominal wall or lungs. Although its spread can be very fast, bile duct cancer is rare.

Bile duct cancer can still be cured if diagnosed at an early stage. However, if it has entered the next phase, the disease is increasingly difficult to treat. Symptoms of bile duct cancer usually only occur or are felt if the cancer is large enough and blocking the bile duct.

Symptoms of cholangiocarcinoma

Symptoms that occur in patients with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) are as follows:

  • Fever with temperatures up to 38 degrees Celsius or higher.
  • Shivering.
  • Tired body.
  • Reduce weight and appetite.
  • Clear stool until the urine is dark in color.
  • Stomach becomes swollen and sore.
  • Very irritated skin.
  • The color of the eyes and skin turn yellow.
  • Nausea and vomiting.

Causes of cholangiocarcinoma


Most cholangiocarcinomas (bile duct cancers) can develop without apparent cause. However, this cancer occurs when bile duct cells mutate in their DNA. As a result, cells grow out of control and form tumors or cancer cells in large numbers.

Although the exact cause is unknown, several conditions can increase the risk of bile duct cancer. These conditions include:

  • Bile duct abnormalities from birth, such as coledocyst cysts.
  • Problems with the liver, such as chronic liver disease, parasitic liver infections or gallstones in the liver.
  • Exposed to certain chemicals or poisons, such as thorium dioxide (ThO2).
  • Elderly people have a high risk of developing bile duct cancer.
  • Smoking habit.
Cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis

The procedure for diagnosing cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) includes a physical examination and a series of tests. Implementation of the test includes:

  • Blood tests to look for signs of cancer by checking 19-9 levels of cancer antigens in blood and liver function.
  • Analytical tests, such as ultrasound, computed tomography or MRI to detect abnormalities that indicate bile duct cancer.
  • Retrograde endoscopic cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or bile duct endoscopy to examine the small intestinal bile duct.
  • Biopsy by taking samples of biliary tissue to be examined under a microscope.
  • Percutaneous transhepatic cololangiography (PTC) for percutaneous viewing of the bile duct in more detail.

Cholangiocarcinoma treatment

Cholangiocarcinoma treatment (bile duct cancer) aims to overcome the symptoms that arise and cure cancer, and as much as possible at the beginning of the cancer. The main treatment options for bile duct cancer are surgery, including:

  • Laparoscopy. Here, the doctor will make a small incision in the stomach. The purpose of this procedure is to get rid of as many cancer cells as possible. In the case of cancer, which has worsened severity, in addition to the bile duct, the doctor may also be forced to remove the gallbladder, lymph nodes, and parts of the liver or pancreas around the bile duct.
  • Installation of a tube (stent) that is able to widen the bile duct and keep the channel open. The purpose of this procedure is to open the blockage that occurs in the bile duct. Stenting is done using an endoscope.
  • A liver transplant by taking a patient's liver and replacing it with a donor liver. This action is done to cure hilar cholangicarcinoma.
  • Biliary drainage with bypass to restore bile duct fluidization which is disturbed by cancer. 
Another treatment option for bile duct cancer is to treat cancer cells or slow their progression. This treatment includes:

  • Radiotherapy. This is a therapy that uses radiation beams and protons to destroy cancer cells by directing the radiation beams to the target body area. This therapy can also be achieved by installing radioactive material in the body near the area affected by cancer. Some side effects that are threatened by radiation therapy are diarrhea, body fatigue, redness of the skin and hair loss in the treated area. Usually, these side effects disappear once treatment is stopped.
  • Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill cancer cells, can be given before a liver transplant. In addition to killing cancer cells, this therapy can also help reduce the symptoms of cancer experienced by cancer sufferers. Side effects of this therapy can be hair loss, fatigue and risk of infection.
  • Photodynamic Therapy This therapy aims to overcome the symptoms of cancer and to inhibit the growth of cancer cells by injecting chemicals into blood vessels. After that, a laser beam will be created in the hope of triggering a chemical reaction that can kill cancer cells.

In addition to surgery and various therapeutic treatments to kill cancer cells, doctors can also give opioids (for example, morphine) to relieve pain. Although these drugs are very effective in relieving pain, these drugs can make cancer patients drowsy or depend on them permanently.
Post Processing

After treatment is complete, patients must continue to undergo periodic examinations, as well as scanning and laboratory examinations, to detect the occurrence of conditions and side effects due to treatment. For several years after treatment is over, doctors usually recommend a routine check every six months.

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