Bile ducts, when functioning properly, drain bile into the small intestines during the digestion process. When there is an obstruction in this system of tubes, the bile will back up into the gallbladder or liver and the fats and lipids in the intestines will pass through undigested.
In the case of bile duct cancer, a tumor may obstruct the flow of bile. If this happens, the bilirubin (a brownish-yellow substance found in bile) builds up and causes jaundice, or the yellowing of the skin and eyes. Jaundice is not itself a disease, but rather a symptom of an underlying condition, typically affecting the liver or biliary system.
Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare and slow-growing cancer of the bile ducts. The bile ducts act as a conduit from the liver to the small intestines, delivering bile during the digestive process. The most common symptoms of bile cancer are characterized by abnormal liver functions such as jaundice, weight loss, and changes in stool or urine.
Some potential symptoms associated with bile duct cancer include the following:
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), sometimes accompanied by itchy skin
- Decreased appetite / weight loss
- Enlarged abdominal mass / bloated feeling
- Nausea and/or fever
- Changes in stool or urine
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