A cancerous growth in one of the bile ducts, which causes jaundice and weight loss.
A cancer in the bile ducts of the liver associated with opisthorchiasis. See Opisthorchiasis.
n. a rare malignant tumour of the *bile ducts. Clinical features include abdominal pain, weight loss, pruritus, obstructive jaundice, and abnormal liver function tests. A tumour located at the junction of the right and left hepatic ducts within the liver is known as a Klatskin tumour. Primary sclerosing *cholangitis, *ulcerative colitis, chronic infection with specific liver flukes (such as Clonorchis sinensis), and exposure to the imaging contrast agent Thorotrast are potential risk factors for the development of cholangiocarcinoma. Differentiation from other causes of bile duct *stricture(s), e.g. sclerosing cholangitis, can be very difficult.
A greenish-brown alkaline liquid secreted by the liver. Bile carries away waste products formed in the liver and also helps to break down fats in the small intestine for digestion.
The waste products in bile include the pigments bilirubin and biliverdin, which give bile its greenish-brown colour; bile salts, which aid in the breakdown and absorption of fats; and cholesterol. Bile passes out of the liver through the bile ducts and is then concentrated and stored in the gallbladder. After a meal, bile is expelled and enters the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine) via the common bile duct. Most of the bile salts are later reabsorbed into the bloodstream to be recycled by the liver into bile. Bile pigments are excreted in the faeces. (See also biliary system; colestyramine.)
bile duct Any of the ducts by which bile is carried from the liver, first to the gallbladder and then to the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine). The bile duct system forms a network of tubular canals. Canaliculi (small canals) surround the liver cells and collect the bile. The canaliculi join together to form ducts of increasing size. The ducts emerge from the liver as the 2 hepatic ducts, which join within or just outside the liver to form the common hepatic duct. The cystic duct branches off to the gallbladder; from this point the common hepatic duct becomes the common bile duct and leads into the duodenum.
(See also biliary system.)
bile duct cancer See cholangiocarcinoma. bile duct obstruction A blockage or constriction of a bile duct (see biliary system). Bile duct obstruction results in accumulation of bile in the liver (cholestasis) and jaundice due to a buildup of bilirubin in the blood. Prolonged obstruction of the bile duct can lead to secondary biliary cirrhosis. The most common cause of obstruction is gallstones. Other causes include a tumour affecting the pancreas (see pancreas, cancer of), where the bile duct passes through it, or cancer that has spread from elsewhere in the body. Cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of the bile ducts) is a very rare cause of blockage. Bile duc.
obstruction is a rare side effect of certain drugs. It may also be caused by cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts), trauma (such as injury during surgery), and rarely by flukes or worms.
Bile duct obstruction causes “obstructive” jaundice, which is characterized by pale-coloured faeces, dark urine, and a yellow skin colour.
There may also be itching.
Other symptoms may include abdominal pain (with gallstones) or weight loss (with cancer).
Treatment depends on the cause, but surgery may be necessary.
Gallstones may be removed with an endoscope (see ERCP).... bile
adj. preceding the formation of a benign or malignant tumour (neoplasm). Preneoplastic lesions have the potential to give rise to tumours at that site. For example, mammary ductal epithelial *hyperplasia can give rise to *ductal carcinoma in situ. Preneoplastic conditions may result in tumours at that site or elsewhere. For example, ulcerative colitis predisposes to the development of colorectal *adenocarcinoma and *cholangiocarcinoma.... preneoplastic
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