How to treat bile duct tumors?

Bile duct tumors are a type of tumor that originates in the head of the pancreas where the common bile duct runs through, or in the bile duct itself at the junction of the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct, in the gallbladder, or in the liver. Symptoms of a bile duct tumor include abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, weight loss, and itching.

1: Symptoms of bile duct tumors include jaundice, abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, weight loss and itching. Generally, there is no fever or chills, and the symptoms gradually worsen. The early symptoms of bile duct cancer are not obvious. Ultrasound examination can reveal dilation of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, and rarely find the location of the mass.

1: To prevent bile duct cancer, maintain a happy mental state, develop good eating habits, avoid spicy food, eat less greasy food, and do not drink strong alcohol. To prevent bile duct cancer, actively treat the cancer before it occurs, and eliminate the possible causes of cancer as soon as possible.

2: People over 40 years old, especially women, should undergo regular B-ultrasound examinations. If cholecystitis, gallstones or polyps are found, follow-up examinations should be conducted and treatment should be initiated as soon as possible if any changes are found in the condition.

3: Eat a light diet, preferably vegetable porridge, noodle soup and other foods that are easy to digest and absorb. Eat a light diet with a refreshing taste. Fresh vegetables such as greens, cabbage, radish, carrots, tomatoes, etc. can provide a variety of vitamins and inorganic salts, which are beneficial to improve the body's self-regulation ability and provide high resistance.

1: The treatment of bile duct tumors depends on the cause and the condition of the tumor. Surgery is the most direct way to find out the type of tumor, determine whether the tumor can be removed, and establish a bile drainage bypass. The most common situation is that the tumor cannot be completely removed. Moreover, most of these tumors are not sensitive to radiation therapy. Chemotherapy can sometimes relieve some symptoms.

2: Some patients with cancerous bile duct obstruction experience pain, itching and abscesses caused by bacterial infection. If the condition does not allow surgery, the doctor can insert a catheter (bypass tube) through a fiber endoscope to allow bile and pus to bypass the tumor for drainage. This method can not only drain the accumulated bile and pus, but also control pain and relieve itching.

Ultrasound examination can reveal dilatation of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, and in rare cases, the location of the mass. Further examinations include ERCP or PTC direct cholangiography, which can show the growth site of the bile duct tumor, but neither can determine whether it is a benign or malignant lesion. The final diagnosis still depends on biopsy during ERCP or postoperative pathological examination.