Gallbladder & Bile Duct Cancers

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Gallbladder and bile duct cancers are rare and account for a very small percentage of all cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 8,750 new cases of gallbladder cancer and bile duct cancer will be diagnosed in 2006.

Gallbladder cancer is difficult to detect and diagnose because it causes few symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. Generally this type of cancer is more common in women and in people over the age of 55. Bile duct cancer, which develops more often in men than women, can form in the ducts within the liver (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma) or outside the liver (extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma). As with gallbladder cancer, bile duct cancer is hard to diagnose and often goes undetected until the person becomes jaundiced.

In this section, you can find information about our expertise in treating patients with gallbladder and bile duct cancer, and also learn about our services and our research.

Our Approach & Expertise
At Memorial Sloan-Kettering, a multidisciplinary team of doctors determines the most appropriate treatment for each patient with hepatobiliary cancer.
Our Team of Experts
Information about Memorial Sloan-Kettering's gallbladder and bile duct cancer specialists, their education, training, board certifications, current publications, and specific areas of clinical expertise.
Overview
Most primary gallbladder and bile duct cancers originate in the mucosa -- the innermost layer of the organs -- and spread through the outer layers as the cancer grows.
Risk Factors
Several risk factors have been identified that make a person more likely to develop gallbladder or bile duct cancer.
Symptoms
Symptoms of gallbladder or bile duct cancer depend entirely upon the location of the tumor.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing hepatobiliary cancers is difficult since this area of the body is complex and includes several organs and major blood vessels.
Treatment
For most biliary cancers, surgery is often the most effective therapy, and therefore proper surgical evaluation is an important part of a treatment plan.
After Treatment
Coordinated treatment and care by a multidisciplinary team of clinician-researchers can help ensure quality of life for longer periods than have been possible in the past.

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