If bile duct cancer spreads
Cancer cells can spread from the bile duct to other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis.
Understanding how a type of cancer usually grows and spreads helps your healthcare team plan your treatment and future care. If bile duct cancer spreads, it can spread to the following:
- liver
- nearby lymph nodes (regional lymph nodes)
- gallbladder
- pancreas
- first part of the small intestine (duodenum)
- other structures in the abdomen, such as the
peritoneum - lymph nodes far from the bile ducts
Bile duct cancer can sometimes spread to the bones, brain or lungs, but that is uncommon.