Open Accessibility Menu
Hide

Learn About Bile Duct Cancer

Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) starts in the bile ducts, which are the thin tubes that carry digestive fluid and connect your liver to your gallbladder and small intestine.

There are two types of bile duct cancer:

  • Intrahepatic bile duct cancer. Forms in the bile ducts inside the liver.
  • Extrahepatic bile duct cancer. Forms in the bile ducts outside of the liver.
    • Perihilar bile duct cancer is found in the hilum region — the area where the right and left bile ducts exit the liver to form the common hepatic duct.
    • Distal bile duct cancer is found in the distal region — the area where the common bile duct passes through the pancreas and ends in the small intestine.

Learn more about bile duct cancer causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Why Choose Us for Bile Duct Cancer Treatment

Together with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, we are the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, meeting the highest standards in cancer research, treatment, prevention and education in the nation. We offer the most advanced treatment options, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and access to clinical trials, many of which are not available elsewhere.

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey logo National Cancer Institute logo

New Jersey’s Largest Network of Cancer Specialists

We offer access to New Jersey’s largest network of cancer specialists, including nationally and internationally recognized oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, advanced practice nurses and oncology support professionals with advanced credentials in cancer specialty care with expertise in gastrointestinal cancers.

Oncology Nurse Navigators Guide You

Nurse navigators help secure appointments, coordinate follow-up visits related to treatments and procedures, and guide you through aspects of survivorship.

To schedule an appointment with one of New Jersey’s best gastrointestinal cancer specialists, call 844-CANCERNJ or 844-226-2376.

Bile Duct Cancer Causes

Bile duct cancer occurs when DNA mutations cause the cells in the bile duct to multiply out of control and form a tumor. The exact cause of bile duct cancer is unknown. However, certain risk factors increase your chances of getting the disease, including:

  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis (inflammation and scarring in the bile ducts causes them to become blocked)
  • Chronic ulcerative colitis
  • Bile duct cysts (cause swelling, inflammation, and infection)
  • Infection with a Chinese liver fluke parasite

Symptoms of Bile Duct Cancer

Bile duct cancer symptoms can include:

  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes)
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Clay-colored stool
  • Abdominal pain
  • Fever
  • Itchy skin
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Weight loss with no underlying cause

Patients who have risk factors and/or bile duct cancer symptoms should make an appointment with their physician.

Diagnosing Bile Duct Cancer

The following may be used to diagnose bile duct cancer:

  • Medical history and physical examination. Your physician asks important questions about your medical history to analyze your risk factors. He or she also examines you for signs of bile duct cancer.
  • Liver function tests. Blood tests that analyze your liver function and give your physician important clues about what is causing your symptoms.
  • Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA 19-9 tumor marker test. Blood tests that look for increased levels of proteins produced by bile duct cancer cells.
  • Imaging tests. Ultrasound, CT, MRI, and MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) produce pictures of the bile ducts which can be examined for cancer or other conditions.
  • Biopsy. Different procedures may be used to collect a small sample of bile duct tissue. After it is collected, the tissue is sent to the laboratory where it is analyzed for cancer.

Bile duct cancer is staged as 0, I, II, III, or IV after it is diagnosed. This helps physicians classify and treat cancer appropriately.

Bile Duct Cancer Treatment

Standard bile duct cancer treatment may include:

  • Surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove cancerous tissue. Several procedures can be performed. The bile duct or part of the liver (partial hepatectomy) may be surgically removed. A Whipple procedure may be performed. This is a complex surgery that removes the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), the gallbladder, and the bile duct.
  • Radiation therapy. Uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and stop them from returning.
    • External radiation involves radiation from a machine outside of the body.
    • Internal radiation places radioactive substances in the body near cancer.
  • Chemotherapy. Drugs are used to kill cancer cells or stop them from dividing.
  • New types of bile duct cancer treatment that are being studied in clinical trials include:
  • Liver transplant. Removing the liver and replacing it with a healthy one from a donor.
  • Targeted therapy. Drugs target changes in cells that cause cancer. They sometimes work when chemotherapy does not and they may cause different side effects.
  • Immunotherapy. Uses the body's immune system to locate and attack cancer.

Our Oncology Nurse Navigators Will Guide You Through Your Bile Duct Cancer Journey

Our oncology nurse navigators help patients through the entire bile duct cancer journey, from securing initial appointments to coordinating follow-up visits related to treatments and procedures, all the way through aspects of survivorship. Oncology nurse navigators also can refer you to social workers or financial counselors for matters about health insurance, financial and other challenges.

To schedule an appointment with one of New Jersey’s best gastrointestinal cancer specialists, call 844-CANCERNJ or 844-226-2376.

Patient Stories

  • Sisters, Nurses, Breast Cancer Survivors

    Gladys and Grace
    Read More
  • Mother, Advocate, 11-Year Breast Cancer Survivor

    Maureen
    Read More
  • Mother, Wife, 8-Year Breast Cancer Survivor

    Kristine
    Read More

Patient Stories

  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
Medical Specialty Services at Bayonne
16 East 29th Street
Bayonne, NJ 07002
(973) 926-7280
View
Cristie Kerr Women's Health Center
377 Jersey Avenue
Ground Floor, Medical Office Building
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(877) 393-5374
View
Center for Breast Health and Disease Management - Westfield
560 Springfield Ave
Westfield, NJ 07090
(973) 322-7020
View
Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center
200 South Orange Avenue
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7000
View
Community Medical Center’s Comprehensive Breast Center
368 Lakehurst Rd
1st Floor
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-3363
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Howell
4013 Route 9
Suite 2S
Howell, NJ 07731
(732) 923-7700
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Colts Neck
310 Route 34 South
Second Floor
Colts Neck, NJ 07722
(732) 923-7700
View
Madeline Fiadini LoRe Foundation Infusion Center
414 Grand Street
Suite 9
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2730
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7700
View
Jersey City Medical Center Radiation Oncology
631 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07304
(844) 226-2376
View
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
94 Old Short Hills Road
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-5000
View
Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 222-5200
View
Clara Maass Medical Center
1 Clara Maass Drive
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 450-2000
View
Community Medical Center
99 Highway 37 West
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-8000
View
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
195 Little Albany St.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 235-2465
View
Jersey City Medical Center
355 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2000
View
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at RWJUH
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
RWJ University Hospital Rahway
865 Stone Street
Rahway, NJ 07065
(732) 381-4200
View
RWJ University Hospital Somerset
110 Rehill Avenue
Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 685-2200
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Lakewood
600 River Ave
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 923-7700
View
Trinitas Regional Medical Center – Williamson Street Campus
225 Williamson St
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
(908) 994-5000
View
The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center
300 2nd Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7250
View
Monmouth Medical Center Outpatient Infusion Center
100 State Route 36 West
West Long Branch, NJ 07764
(732) 222-6046
View
RWJ University Hospital Hamilton
1 Hamilton Health Place
Hamilton, NJ 08690
(609) 586-7900
View
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
Center for Breast Health and Disease Management - Livingston
200 South Orange Avenue
Suite 102
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7020
View
Jersey City Medical Center Outpatient Services at Colony Plaza
414 Grand Street
Suite 14
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 616-0470
View
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus
600 River Avenue
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 363-1900
View
The Family Health Center (FHC) at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
166 Lyons Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
125 Paterson Street
Clinical Academic Building (CAB)
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 235-6200
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group at Monroe
800 Bunn Drive
Suite 303
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 655-5178
View
Laurie Proton Therapy Center
141 French Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 253-3176
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group
18 Centre Drive
Clinical Academic Building (CAB)
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(609) 655-5178
View
Cancer Center at RWJ Hamilton
2575 Klockner Road
Hamilton Township, NJ 08690
(609) 631-6960
View

Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment & Care

offered at these locations in your neighborhood

View All Locations