How does surgery treat cholangiocarcinoma?

How does surgery treat cholangiocarcinoma?

Your options for bile duct cancer surgery may include:

• Bile duct removal to get rid of part of the bile duct if the cancer hasn’t spread.
• Partial hepatectomy to remove part of the bile duct and sections of the liver.
• Whipple procedure to remove the bile duct, gallbladder and part of the pancreas, stomach and small intestine.
• Liver transplant to replace the liver with a donor liver, though this is only for early-stage cancers and it may be difficult to find a donor.
• Palliative surgery to ease symptoms of cancer by removing blockages in the bile duct. Your healthcare provider may place a stent (small, hollow tube) in your bile duct to help it drain into your small intestine or place a drain that connects to a bag outside your body.