Carcinoma of gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract

Carcinoma of the gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract is a type of cancer that starts in the gallbladder or in the bile ducts that run outside the liver (called extrahepatic bile ducts). The gallbladder is a small organ under the liver that stores bile, a fluid that helps digest fats. The extrahepatic bile ducts are the tubes that carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. Together, cancers in these areas are sometimes called biliary tract cancers or biliary cancers. Gallbladder cancer and bile duct cancer (also called cholangiocarcinoma) are the two main types covered under this category. These cancers often grow silently in the early stages, which means many people do not notice symptoms until the disease has already spread. When symptoms do appear, they can include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), belly pain, nausea, unexplained weight loss, and dark urine. Because the gallbladder and bile ducts sit deep inside the body, tumors can become quite large before they are found. Treatment depends on how far the cancer has spread. Surgery to remove the tumor is the best chance for a cure, but it is only possible in a minority of patients because most cases are found late. For cancers that cannot be removed with surgery, treatments include chemotherapy, targeted therapy drugs, immunotherapy, and radiation. In recent years, newer targeted therapies and immunotherapy drugs have been approved and are improving outcomes for some patients. This remains a challenging cancer with active research ongoing.

Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.

Bring these to your next appointment

• Q1.What stage is my cancer, and has it spread beyond the gallbladder or bile ducts?,Has my tumor been tested for genetic changes like FGFR2, IDH1, HER2, or MSI-H, and do the results affect my treatment options?,Am I a candidate for surgery, and if so, what does that operation involve?,What chemotherapy or targeted therapy do you recommend, and what side effects should I expect?,Are there any clinical trials I might be eligible for?,Should I see a genetic counselor to find out if an inherited condition contributed to my cancer?,What palliative care or supportive care services are available to help manage my symptoms and quality of life?

Common questions about Carcinoma of gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract

Related conditions

Other rare diseases commonly researched alongside Carcinoma of gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract.

• Hepatocellular carcinoma→
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis→