Distal bile duct cancer stages

Types of bile duct cancer

Bile duct cancer is also known as cholangiocarcinoma. There are 3 types of bile duct cancer. Your type depends on where the cancer starts in the bile ducts.

This page is about the stages of distal bile duct cancer. This cancer starts in the bile ducts near the ​pancreas​ and small bowel. 

The other main types of bile duct cancer are:

• intrahepatic bile duct cancer

• perihilar bile duct cancer

The stages are different for each type of bile duct cancer.

Find out about the stages of intrahepatic and perihilar bile duct cancer

How doctors stage bile duct cancer

The stage of a cancer tells you how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Your doctor looks at your test results to work out the stage.

Knowing the stage of a cancer is important. This is because it helps your doctor decide which treatment is best for you.

Read about tests for bile duct cancer

There are different ways of staging distal bile duct cancer. In the UK doctors usually use the:

• TNM system

• number staging system

The TNM staging system

TNM stands for Tumour, Node and Metastasis. The system describes: 

• the size of the primary tumour (T)

• whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes (N)

• whether the cancer has spread to another part of the body further away from the bile ducts (M)

Tumour (T) stages

There are 4 main T stages for distal bile duct cancer. They are numbered from T1 to T4:

T1 means the tumour is inside the bile duct and has grown less than 5mm into the bile duct wall.

T2 means the tumour has grown between 5 and 12 mm into the bile duct wall.

T3 means the tumour has grown more than 12mm into the bile duct wall.

T4 means the tumour is growing into a main blood vessel near the bile ducts.

Node (N) stages

There are 3 stages:

N0 means there are no cancer cells in the nearby lymph nodes.

N1 means there are cancer cells in 1 to 3 of the nearby lymph nodes.

N2 means there are cancer cells in 4 or more of the nearby lymph nodes.

Metastasis (M) stages

There are two M stages:

M0 means there is no sign that the cancer has spread away from the area around the bile ducts.

M1 means the cancer has spread away from the area around the bile ducts. The most common places for distal bile duct cancer to spread to include the liver and the lungs.

The number staging system

The number staging system divides distal bile duct cancer into 4 main stages. These are numbered from 1 to 4.

Stage 1

This means the cancer has grown less than 5mm into the bile duct wall. This is the same as T1, N0, M0 in the TNM staging system.

Stage 2

This is split into 2 groups:

Stage 2A means the cancer has either:

• grown less than 5mm into the bile duct wall. And there are cancer cells in 1 to 3 of the nearby lymph nodes. This is the same as T1, N1, M0

• grown 5 to 12mm into the bile duct wall. But there are no cancer cells in the nearby lymph nodes. This is the same as T2, N0, M0

Stage 2B means the cancer is one of the following:

• between 5 and 12mm into the bile duct wall. And there are cancer cells in 1 to 3 of the nearby lymph nodes. This is the same as T2, N1, M0

• more than 12mm into the bile duct wall. But there are no cancer cells in the nearby lymph nodes. This is the same as T3, N0, M0

• more than 12mm into the bile duct wall. And there are cancer cells in 1 to 3 of the nearby lymph nodes. This is the same as T3, N1, M0

Read about lymph nodes and cancer

Stage 3

This is split into 2 groups:

Stage 3A means the cancer is one of the following:

• less than 5mm into the bile duct wall. And there are cancer cells in 4 or more of the nearby lymph nodes. This is the same as T1, N2, M0

• between 5 to 12mm into the bile duct wall. And there are cancer cells in 4 or more of the nearby lymph nodes. This is the same as T2, N2, M0

• more than 12mm into the bile duct wall. And there are cancer cells in 4 or more of the nearby lymph nodes. This is the same as T3, N2, M0

Stage 3B means the cancer is one of the following:

• in the main blood vessels in the tummy (abdomen). But there are no cancer cells in the nearby lymph nodes. This is the same as T4, N0, M0

• in the main blood vessels in the abdomen. And there are cancer cells in 1 to 3 of the nearby lymph nodes. This is the same as T4, N1, M0

• in a main blood vessel near the bile ducts. And there are cancer cells in 4 or more of the nearby lymph nodes. This is the same as T4, N2, M0

Stage 4

This means the cancer has spread away from the area around the bile ducts. The most common places for distal bile duct cancer to spread to include the liver and the lungs.

This is the same as any T, any N, M1 in the TNM staging system.

Treatment options for distal bile duct cancer

The stage of the cancer helps your doctor decide which treatment is best for. Treatment also depends on:

• where in the distal bile ducts the cancer is

• your general health and level of fitness

• if there are ​gene​ changes in the cancer cells

Read more about gene changes and cancer treatment

You may have surgery if you have an early stage distal bile duct cancer. Your doctor usually removes part of your pancreas, your gallbladder and the first part of the small bowel. This is called a pancreaticoduodenectomy.

This is a major operation. Your doctor will make sure that you are well enough to have it.

Unfortunately, most bile duct cancers are usually advanced by the time they are diagnosed. This means you might not be able to have the cancer removed. Your doctor might suggest other treatments to reduce your symptoms and help you feel better. This can include chemotherapy or putting a small tube (stent) in the bile duct. The stent opens up a bile duct that is blocked by the cancer. It means that bile can start to flow again.

Find out more about treatment for bile duct cancer