A malignant tumor arising from the intrahepatic bile duct epithelium. It is composed of ducts lined by cuboidal or columnar cells that do not contain bile, with abundant stroma. (From Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, p1455; Stedman, 25th ed)
MSH: Medical Subject Headings
(ko-LAN-jee-o-sar-KO-ma) A tumor of the connective tissues of the bile ducts.
NCI: NCI Thesaurus
An malignant tumor composed of cells resembling those of bile ducts. Cholangiocarcinoma is a relatively rare tumor in most populations. It can arise from any portion of the intrahepatic bile duct epithelium or the hepatic ducts. Grossly, the lesions are nodular, grayish-white firm and solid. Microscopically, the vast majority of cholangiocarcinomas are adenocarcinomas showing tubular and/or papillary structures. Early detection of cholangiocarcinomas is difficult, and the overall prognosis after resection is poor (adapted from WHO, 2000).
