Cholangiocarcinoma Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

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Cholangiocarcinoma Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the bile ducts.

Definition

Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the bile ducts. The bile duct is where bile flows from the liver, through the pancreas, to the intestine. This liquid helps the digestive process.

Cancer of the bile ducts can metastasize or spread to nearby organs. Usually, this occurs in conditions that are already severe. Spread generally occurs in the liver, lungs, and walls of the abdominal cavity.

Reason

There is no definite cause for cholangiocarcinoma. However, there are risk factors that can trigger this cancer. These risk factors include:

  • Several types of diseases of the liver and bile ducts, such as primary sclerosing cholangitis, stones or cysts in the bile duct, liver fluke infection, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis B or C
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
  • exposure to thorotrast (it was used in X-ray examinations until the 1950s)
  • alcohol consumption
  • smoking
  • obesity and diabetes

Diagnosis

Doctors can determine the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma through a series of medical interviews to obtain information about symptoms and the presence of risk factors. In addition, a physical examination will also be carried out with a focus on the abdominal area.

Beyond that, it may also require some supporting examinations, such as:

  • blood tests: liver function, tumor markers (CEA and CA19-9)
  • radiology: ultrasound, CT-Scan, MRI, cholangiography
  • laparoscopy
  • sample biopsy

Symptoms

In general, the symptoms of cholangiocarcinoma appear only after cancer has progressed to block the bile ducts. Symptoms of this blockage include:

  • yellow skin and eyes (icteric)
  • itchy skin
  • putty-colored stools and dark-colored urine
  • loss of appetite and weight loss
  • abdominal pain (especially the upper right area) and swelling
  • high fever and chills

Treatment

The choice of cholangiocarcinoma treatment that will be given by the doctor depends on several consideration factors. Starting from the location and size of cancer, possible side effects, chances of recovery, and general health conditions. Treatment options that can be pursued are:

  • surgery
  • radiation therapy, the use of light to kill cancer cells
  • chemotherapy, the use of drugs to kill cancer cells
  • palliative therapy, namely efforts to control or reduce symptoms due to advanced cancer which aims to make the patient not experience pain.

Prevention

As with most types of cancer, the steps you can take to prevent cholangiocarcinoma are not absolutely successful. Efforts to live a healthy lifestyle are the first step to maintaining general health conditions. Periodically checking the condition of the liver and bile can also be an effort to prevent bigger problems from appearing.

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