Tumors of the bile ducts and gallbladder

[Tracie Lynn]

Tumors, both noncancerous and cancerous, within the bile ducts or gallbladder are rare.

Ultrasonography can usually detect a tumor in the bile ducts or gallbladder.
These cancers are usually fatal, but symptoms can be treated.

Bile is a fluid that is produced by the liver and aids in digestion. Bile is transported through small tubes (bile ducts) that carry bile through the liver and then from the liver to the gallbladder and to the small intestine. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped sac located beneath the liver that stores bile and releases it when needed. (See also Overview of Gallbladder and Bile Duct Disorders.)
Cancer of the bile ducts (cholangiocarcinoma) is rare. It can originate anywhere in the bile ducts, particularly in those outside of the liver. Being older or having primary sclerosing cholangitis increases the risk of developing this cancer.
Cancer of the gallbladder is also rare. Nearly everyone with gallbladder cancer has gallstones. Many people live only a few months after this cancer develops. This cancer is more common among American Indians, people with large gallstones, and people with a extensive scarring of the gallbladder, which can occur in severe chronic cholecystitis.
Polyps, which are noncancerous (benign) outgrowths of tissue, may develop in the gallbladder. They rarely cause symptoms or require treatment. They are found in about 5% of people during ultrasonography.
Sometimes cancers can block the flow of bile, but most blockages are caused by gallstones. Even less often, cancer can spread (metastasize) from elsewhere in the body to adjacent structures or nearby lymph nodes, causing blockage. Noncancerous tumors in bile ducts also cause blockages.