Cholangiocarcinoma: Symptoms and Treatment

Bile ducts play a major role in the digestive system of the human body as their primary function is to transport bile from the liver to the gall bladder. The transportation is important as bile contains important compounds such as bilirubin, cholesterol, bile acids, and salts, which are required for proper digestion in the small intestine. Thus, bile ducts are essential for the smooth functioning of the human digestive system. However, several people across the world are facing issues related to these ducts, out of which cholangiocarcinoma is the most dangerous. In simple terminology, it is a tumour formed in any of the bile ducts with its origin from the cholangiocytes lining the biliary tree. Becoming prevalent in the country, patients with this fatal disease should consult a reputed hepatologist in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and other megacities. 

Although cholangiocarcinoma or bile duct cancer does not show early signs, in some cases, identifying signs on time can save the life of a patient. In most cases, the problem starts with a blockage in the bile ducts, for which patients get a check-up done. Besides this, another commonly observed symptom is jaundice or yellow fever. This happens when the liver is unable to get rid of excess bilirubin present in the bile. Due to this, bilirubin enters into the bloodstream causing toxicity that leads to jaundice. Moreover, the presence of bilirubin in the blood can also lead to itching in the body of patients with bile duct cancer. Another symptom caused by bilirubin is white or grey coloured stools in cases of cholangiocarcinoma as the lack of its presence in the intestines doesn’t allow the stools to have the brown pigment in it. Dark coloured urine is also seen as a common symptom; however, it can be caused due to other diseases in the body as well. Hence, patients are bound to lose appetite and feel nauseated as their entire digestion system isn’t operating as the way it should. 

Since there are risk factors involved in developing bile duct cancer among human beings such as parasitic infections, biliary duct cysts, hepatolithiasis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, etc., the treatment of this malignant tumour has to be done according to its position in the liver. Besides this, the extent of this cancer also helps in determining the treatment plan by renowned hepatologists in Delhi and other parts of the country. Resectable bile duct cancer can be completely removed from a patient’s liver with surgery; however, unresectable cancer cannot be entirely removed by surgery or operated on at all. Patients who have jaundice are first provided with a stent or catheter in the bile duct so that the enzyme can be transported smoothly. Those who have had surgical removal of the cancer would be advised to take adjuvant therapy in which both radiations as well as chemotherapy are used to kill the remaining cancerous cells. For serious cases of unresectable cancers, liver transplant is one of the best ways of ensuring the survival of the patients. Clinical trials are very common in Cholangiocarcinoma as many cases still do not have a definitive treatment. Palliative care is provided to those patients who are on the last stage of the cancer. This includes medicines for controlling vomiting, nausea, and lack of appetite along with problem in managing the flow of bile in the body. 

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