Bile Duct Cancer

These rare tumors can be challenging to diagnose early, making it critical to seek expert care with a Surgical Oncologist who has specialized hepatobiliary training. Specialists work closely with gastroenterologists and utilize advanced techniques to identify and biopsy the biliary duct tumor. The latest in 3-dimensional imaging is used to accurately stage the cancer and determine whether it is operable. Depending on whether the location of the tumor is in the liver or in the bile duct, surgery for bile duct cancer offers the best treatment for survival.

With expertise in liver and bile duct cancers, our Hepatobiliary Surgeon also treats non-cancer-related bile duct injuries. which can occur during a laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder for gallstones. When the bile duct is injured during surgery, patients are often transferred to another center where the surgeon can create a new connection from the bile duct to the intestine. The most common treatment called a hepaticojejunostomy, restores normal bile flow into the intestine.

Since the biliary tree extends from the liver and the pancreas, operations to remove a bile duct cancer may require resection of parts of these other organs as well. Our Surgical Oncologist and Hepatobiliary Surgeon perform all aspects of the surgical treatment of this disease, including:

• Liver resection is performed for tumors arising from the ducts within the liver, known as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
• Combined liver and bile duct resection is performed for tumors located within the bile duct as it enters the liver, known as hilar cholangiocarcinoma or Klatskin's tumor.
• Biliary Bypass is used for tumors that are not able to be surgically resected for cure. Surgeons ‘bypass’ the blockage of the tumor by attaching the bile duct to another area of the small intestine.

OurHepatobiliary Surgeon is specially trained in robotic-assisted pancreas surgery, which has been proven to yield comparable cancer treatment outcomes with fewer complications compared to the traditional open surgery approach.

Jupiter Medical Center is a high-volume center for robotic-assisted Whipple procedures. We are one of the few centers to care for patients with complex pancreatic tumors.

The pancreatic cancer treatment plan often requires a combination of methods depending on the stage of the cancer. Surgeons use several different techniques to remove pancreatic tumors.

• Distal pancreatectomy: This procedure removes the body and tail of the pancreas, while leaving the head of the pancreas left to maintain normal function. Depending on the exact tumor location, the procedure often involves removing the spleen as well. Our surgeons routinely perform this procedure laparoscopically, which results in a shorter hospital stay, less post-operative pain, and minimal scarring than traditional, open surgery.
• Whipple procedure or pancreaticoduodenectomy: In this procedure, the surgeon removes the head of the pancreas and the other attached organs, including part of the stomach, the gallbladder, and the common bile duct. The procedure leaves the body and tail of the pancreas, which is enough to maintain production of insulin and digestive enzymes. When possible, the surgeons leave the entire stomach (pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy) when this does not compromise tumor removal.