Bile Duct Cancer

Bile duct cancer is a rare cancer also known as cholangiocarcinoma. It can affect bile ducts within the liver or the tube that delivers bile from the liver to the intestine. This tube connects to the gallbladder. Patients with bile duct cancer also typically have jaundice.

Since the biliary tree extends from the liver and the pancreas, operations to remove a bile duct cancer may require resection of parts of these additional organs. I perform all surgical treatments of this disease, including:

• Liver resection: Performed for tumors arising from the ducts within the liver, known as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
• Combined liver and bile duct resection: Performed for tumors located within the bile duct as it enters the liver, known as hilar cholangiocarcinoma, or Klatskin’s tumor.
• Pancreaticoduodenectomy, or Whipple Procedure: Performed for lower bile duct tumors, which inevitably involve the pancreas. The bile duct is resected in combination with the head of the pancreas in order to ensure clear margins.
• Biliary bypass: Used for tumors that are unable to be surgically resected for a cure. Surgeons bypass the blockage of the tumor by attaching the bile duct to another area of the small intestine.