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Cancer of the bile duct

Bile duct cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth that grows in the bile ducts. It is also known as cholangiocarcinoma and is very rare in the UK.

The bile ducts transfer bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine.  Bile is a greenish-yellow digestive fluid produced by the liver that breaks down the fat in the food we eat.  Together the gallbladder and bile ducts are called the biliary system.

Bile duct cancer that starts inside the liver is known as intrahepatic and is usually treated the same way as liver cancer.  Growths that begin outside the liver are called extrahepatic.