What are Biliary Tract Cancers (BTCs)?
Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a group of rare and aggressive gastrointestinal (GI) cancers that occur in the bile ducts and gallbladder. These cancers may affect the liver and could be caused by inflammation or blockage of the bile ducts over time.
The bile ducts are a series of thin tubes that go from the liver to the small intestine. Their main job is to allow bile, a fluid made in the liver, to go from the liver directly into the small intestine, or into the gallbladder for storage. Bile helps the body digest fat in food.
Early-stage BTCs affecting the bile ducts and gallbladder typically do not cause symptoms. Most new cases of BTCs are diagnosed at an advanced stage, which means the cancer may have already spread to other parts of the body.
What are biliary tract cancers?
Bile duct cancer
- Starts in the bile ducts
- Is usually diagnosed in people 65 years of age or older
Gallbladder cancer
- Forms in the tissues of the gallbladder
- Is usually diagnosed in people 65 years of age or older
- May be found when the gallbladder is checked for gallstones or removed
What are the symptoms of bile duct cancer and gallbladder cancer?
The most common symptoms include:
Yellowing of the skin and eyes
Dark urine
Gray-colored stool
Abdominal pain
Weight loss
Fever
