How to Determine if it's Bile Duct Cancer?
Disease description:
In the past few months, I have frequently experienced discomfort in the upper abdomen, sometimes accompanied by severe pain, especially after consuming greasy foods. In addition, my skin and eyes have begun to show signs of jaundice, my urine has become darker in color, and my stools have turned lighter. I am concerned that these symptoms may be related to bile duct cancer.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Gao Jun
Cholangiocarcinoma is a relatively rare but serious type of cancer that primarily occurs in the bile ducts inside and outside the liver. Symptoms may include upper abdominal pain, jaundice, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and skin itching. As the disease progresses, patients may develop an abdominal mass, ascites, and other symptoms.
Patients are advised to seek medical attention for comprehensive examinations, which may include blood tests and imaging studies such as ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), helping to detect any tumors in the bile duct area. If cholangiocarcinoma is suspected, further procedures like ERCP or needle biopsy can be performed to obtain tissue samples for pathological examination, which is the gold standard for diagnosing cholangiocarcinoma. While awaiting diagnostic results, patients are advised to avoid high-fat foods, maintain good nutritional status, and minimize alcohol and tobacco consumption as much as possible.
