extrahepatic bile duct cancer
(EK-struh-heh-PA-tik bile dukt KAN-ser)
A rare cancer that forms in the bile ducts (tubes) outside the liver. Bile ducts carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. The two types of extrahepatic bile duct cancer are perihilar bile duct cancer (also called a Klatskin tumor) and distal bile duct cancer.
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Enlarge this image in new windowAnatomy of the extrahepatic bile ducts. Extrahepatic bile ducts are small tubes that carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. They are made up of the common hepatic duct (perihilar region) and the common bile duct (distal region). Bile is made in the liver and flows through the common hepatic duct and the cystic duct to the gallbladder, where it is stored. When food is being digested, bile is released from the gallbladder and flows through the common bile duct, pancreas, and ampulla of Vater into the small intestine.