Introduction
Bile duct cancer, also known as Cholangiocarcinoma, is a rare but aggressive form of cancer that originates in the bile ducts, which are responsible for transporting bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. There are three main types of bile duct cancer based on their location:
Intrahepatic (within the liver)
Perihilar (where the bile ducts exit the liver)
Distal (further down the bile ducts, closer to the small intestine)
Incidence Rates:
Bile duct cancer is relatively rare but varies significantly across different regions and populations. According to the American Cancer Society, there are approximately 8,000 new cases of bile duct cancer each year in the United States.
Incidence rates are notably higher in Asia, particularly in Thailand, due to the prevalence of liver fluke infections, which are a significant risk factor for this disease. Countries like Japan and Korea also report higher incidence rates compared to Western nations (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2024).
Mortality Rates:
Mortality rates for bile duct cancer are high, reflecting its aggressive nature and the tendency for late-stage diagnosis. Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program indicate that the five-year survival rate for bile duct cancer in the United States is around 10%.
Survival Rates:
Survival rates for bile duct cancer vary significantly depending on the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed, such as:
Localised bile duct cancer (confined to the bile ducts): The five-year survival rate is approximately 24%.
Regional bile duct cancer (spread to nearby lymph nodes or organs): The five-year survival rate drops to around 9%.
Distant bile duct cancer (metastasized to distant parts of the body): The five-year survival rate is about 2%.
Ethnicity and Geography
There are notable differences in the incidence and mortality rates of bile duct cancer among different ethnic groups and geographic locations. In the United States, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have higher incidence rates compared to other racial groups, likely due to higher rates of liver fluke infection and chronic hepatitis B and C infections.
Geographic regions with higher prevalence of these risk factors, such as Southeast Asia, report significantly higher incidence rates of bile duct cancer compared to Western countries.
References:
American Cancer Society. (2024). Key Statistics for Bile Duct Cancer.
National Cancer Institute. (2024). Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer. SEER Cancer Stat Facts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer. United States Cancer Statistics Data Brief.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2024). Burden of Digestive Diseases in the United States: Bile Duct Cancer.
コメント