Cholangiocarcinoma – Distal, Hilar, Intrahepatic

Cholangiocarcinoma is cancer that forms in the bile ducts that carry bile. Bile ducts connect your liver to your gallbladder and to your small intestine. There are three different types of cholangiocarcinoma based on the position in which they are formed.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the parts of the bile ducts within the liver.

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the bile ducts outside of the liver. This type is also called perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Distal cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the portion of the bile duct closest to the small intestine.

  • Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
  • itchy skin
  • White-colored stools
  • Fatigue
  • Abdominal pain
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Older age
  • Smoking
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Surgery