Overview

Cholangiocarcinoma is cancer that forms in the slender tubes (bile ducts) that carry the digestive fluid bile. Bile ducts connect your liver to your gallbladder and to your small intestine. This condition, also known as bile duct cancer, is considered a rare disease.

Cholangiocarcinoma can be classified into different types based on where the cancer occurs in the bile ducts:
 

• Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the parts of the bile ducts within the liver and is sometimes classified as a type of liver cancer.

   

• Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the bile ducts just outside of the liver. This type is also called Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

   

• Distal Cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the portion of the bile duct nearest the small intestine.