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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 tend to occur at the junction of
the two main bile ducts within the liver.
They may therefore lead to
obstructive jaundice, i.e. jaundice due to bile
(which is synthesised in the liver) failing to reach the intestines
because the bile ducts have become blocked.
Cholangiocarcinoma may be classified as either intrahepatic
or extrahepatic.
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.
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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. |
