intrahepatic bile duct cancer
(IN-truh-heh-PA-tik bile dukt KAN-ser)
A rare cancer
that forms in the bile ducts inside the liver. A bile duct
is a tube that carries bile (fluid made by the liver)
between the liver and gallbladder and the small intestine.
Only a small number of bile duct cancers are
intrahepatic.
More Information
Enlarge this image in new windowAnatomy of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Intrahepatic bile ducts are a network of small tubes that carry bile inside the liver. The smallest ducts, called ductules, come together to form the right and left hepatic ducts, which lead out of the liver. The two ducts join outside the liver and form the common hepatic duct. The cystic duct from the gallbladder joins the common hepatic duct to form the common bile duct. The common bile duct passes through the pancreas and ends in the small intestine. Bile is made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. When food is being digested, bile is released from the gallbladder and passes through the common bile duct, pancreas, and ampulla of Vater into the small intestine.