Cholangiocarcinoma

Alternative names:

bile duct cancer; cancer of the bile ducts

Symptoms:

• stools, clay colored
• progressive jaundice
• itching
• right upper abdominal pain that may radiate to the back
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• fever
• chills

Signs and tests:

Tests that show tumor or obstruction in the bile duct:

• ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)
• percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTCA)
• abdominal CT scan
• abdominal ultrasound
• CT scan directed biopsy of the biliary tract
• biliary cytology (examination of the cells found in a sample of bile) that shows cholangiocarcinoma

Blood tests that reveal abnormal function:

• liver function tests, elevated
• bilirubin, elevated