Cholangiocarcinoma

Bile duct cancer is a rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the bile ducts. Bile duct cancer is also called cholangiocarcinoma. A network of tubes, called ducts, connects the liver, gallbladder, and small intestine. Cholangiocarcinoma happens when cells in the bile ducts develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The changes tell the cells to multiply out of control and form a mass of cells (tumors) that can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. Cholangiocarcinomas are usually slow-growing tumors that spread locally via the lymphatic system. Treatment and long-term prognosis are dependent upon the location of the mass.