

The two types of extrahepatic bile duct cancer are perihilar bile duct cancer and distal bile duct cancer: Extrahepatic bile duct cancer: This type of cancer forms in the bile ducts outside the liver.When food is being digested, bile is released from the gallbladder and passes through the pancreas into the small intestine, where it helps digest fats.

Bile is made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. The common bile duct passes through the pancreas and ends in the small intestine. The cystic duct from the gallbladder joins the common hepatic duct to form the common bile duct. The two ducts join outside the liver and form the common hepatic duct. The smallest ducts, called ductules, come together to form the right and left hepatic ducts, which lead out of the liver. Intrahepatic bile ducts are a network of small tubes that carry bile inside the liver. Intrahepatic bile duct cancers are also called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas.Īnatomy of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Only a small number of bile duct cancers are intrahepatic. Intrahepatic bile duct cancer: This type of cancer forms in the bile ducts inside the liver.When food is being digested, bile stored in the gallbladder is released and passes through the cystic duct to the common bile duct and into the small intestine. Bile from the liver passes through the hepatic ducts, common hepatic duct, and cystic duct and is stored in the gallbladder. The cystic duct connects the gallbladder to the common hepatic duct. The small ducts come together to form the right and left hepatic ducts, which lead out of the liver. This network begins in the liver where many small ducts collect bile (a fluid made by the liver to break down fats during digestion). Bile duct cancer is also called cholangiocarcinoma.Ī network of tubes, called ducts, connects the liver, gallbladder, and small intestine. What Is Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma)?īile duct cancer is a rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the bile ducts.
