Cholangiocarcinoma
This section is about
Diseases
and Disorders of the Digestive System.
To read about other diseases, disorders, or conditions of the digestive
system, use the links on the left-side of this page.
See also glossary pages about
Tissues
and Organs of the
Digestive System.
A cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant tumour of the bile ducts.
("Malignant" means that this type of tumour invades and destroys the tissue in which it forms and can spread to other tissues in different parts of the body, i.e. it is a cancerous tumour.)
Compare this with the (similar) term cholangioma.
Terminology re. tumours:
- "malignant" => cancerous,
- "benign" => non-cancerous.
Cholangiocarcinoma (plural) tend to occur at the junction of the two main bile ducts within the liver.
They may lead to obstructive jaundice, i.e. jaundice due to bile (which is synthesised in the liver) failing to reach the intestines
Cholangiocarcinoma may be classified as either intrahepatic
See also our pages of general information about cancer.
More about the Digestive System:
This section includes pages about:
- Introduction to the Digestive System
- Terminology about Digestion
- Passage through the alimentary tract
- Component Parts of the Digestive System, incl. Teeth, Stomach, Liver, Small Intestine, Large Intestine
- Chemical Processes in the Digestive System (introductory level)
- Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System
For further information see also our pages of books about gastroenterology.
- The digestive system (introduction)
- Digestive System Terminology
- Main Stages of the Digestive Process
- Transit through the Alimentary Canal
- Absorption Sites
- Structures of the mouth
- Teeth - as part of the digestive system
- Stomach
- Liver
- Small Intestine
- Large Intestine
- Defecation
- Digestive System Diseases & Disorders
