Cholangiocarcinoma history and symptoms

Symptoms


The most common symptom of cholangiocarcinoma is jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), which occurs when bile ducts are blocked by the tumor. Other common symptoms include, in order of frequency: generalized itching (66%), abdominal pain (30%–50%), weight loss (30%–50%), and fever (up to 20%). To some extent, the symptoms depend upon the location of the tumor; patients with cholangiocarcinoma in the extrahepatic bile ducts (outside the liver) are more likely to have jaundice, while those with tumors of the bile ducts within the liver often have pain without jaundice.