Best Doctors in India for Cholangiocarcinoma Treatment
- Liver Transplant Surgeon and HPB Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 15 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Selvakumar Naganathan is one of the best liver transplant surgeons in India with nearly 15 years of experience.
- He has carried out more than 2000 procedures, including 300 donor & 500 recipient hepatectomies, cadaver transplantations, retrieval of cadaver livers, and live donor liver transplants.
- He also established many liver transplantation centers across India & other countries.
- General Surgeon and Surgical Gastroenterologist, Chennai, India
- Over 27 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Raghunath K J is a well-known name in the field of general surgery with an experience of more than 27 years.
- He went under training in advanced Laparoscopic surgery from Canada and France.
- Dr. Raghunath pioneers many prestigious projects in the UK.
- Dr. Raghunath has a specialized interest in Gall Bladder Stone treatment, Hernia, GI Cancer Surgery, Laparoscopic Sleeve Resection, Endoscopic Surgery, etc.
- Colorectal Surgeon and Robotic Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 26 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Venkatesh Munikrishnan is one of the best Gastroenterologists and Colorectal Surgeons in Chennai, having 21 years of experience in managing disorders that need surgical treatment.
- Dr. Munikrishnan specializes in surgical oncology, endoscopy, Gastritis Treatment, etc.
- He is also active in research; one of his research on CT Colonography fetched a grant from Bracco, Milan, Italy.
- GI Surgeon and Liver Transplant Surgeon, Gurugram, India
- Over 20 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Amit Nath Rastogi is a pioneer in the field of liver transplant surgery. He completed his fellowship in liver transplant surgery at Sir Gangaram hospital while being a part of the largest liver transplant program in the country.
- Furthermore, he received his training in robotic liver surgery from IRCAD -Strasbourg, France, and advanced robotic HPB training from Grosseto.
- Liver Transplant Surgeon, Gurugram, India
- Over 10 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Prashant Vilas Bhangui is one of the highly trained liver transplant specialists who received his training in Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver Transplantation.
- He also holds a European Inter-University Diploma in Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Cancers.
- Dr. Prashant is further interested to work in certain fields which include hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal liver metastases, and living donor liver transplantation. Besides this, he has also published several journals on these subjects.
- Gastroenterologist, Gurugram, India
- Over 7 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Abhinandan Mishra is one of the young Gastroenterology doctors in Gurugram who is particularly interested in inflammatory bowel disease treatment.
- Dr. Abhinandan Mishra offers Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography, Ascites tap, Endoscopy, Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy, Capsule Endoscopy, Esophageal Manometry, Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography, etc.
- Gastroenterologist, Gurugram, India
- Over 18 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Atul Sharma is a renowned Gastroenterology practitioner in Gurugram and is particularly interested in Third Space Endoscopy and Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM).
- He presented several papers on Manometry, Luminal gastroenterology, and interventional Gastroenterology during training in Advanced Interventional GI Endoscopy.
- Gastroenterologist, Gurugram, India
- Over 15 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Kapil Jamwal is a renowned GI practitioner in Gurugram with an extensive experience in digestive and liver disease.
- The specialist offers treatment for Hepatitis B, Jaundice, Hepatitis C, Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome, Acute Pancreatitis, Liver Diseases, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
- Gastroenterologist, Gurugram, India
- Over 18 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Rajesh Padhan is a renowned Gastroenterologist in Gurugram with an extensive experience of more than 18 years in the field.
- He is skilled in carrying out various endoscopy procedures such as Colonoscopy, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic ultrasound, upper GI endoscopy, etc.
- Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist, Gurugram, India
- Over 25 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Sakshi Karkra is one of the best Pediatric gastroenterologists in Gurugram.
- She has special interest/ expertise in Colonoscopy, Upper GI Endoscopy, Capsule endoscopy, Enteroscopy, Endoscopic variceal ligation, Foreign body removal, Stricture & achalasia dilatation, Polypectomy, Anal manometry, Liver Biopsy, and Colonic manometry.
Best Hospitals in India for Cholangiocarcinoma Treatment
Cholangiocarcinoma
Cholangiocarcinoma, which is also known as bile duct cancer, is a cancer that forms in the slender tubes or bile ducts that carry the fluid bile, which helps the body digest fat. Bile ducts connect the liver to the gallbladder as well as to the small intestine. This condition, which is generally uncommon, occurs mostly in people who are over the age of 50. However, it can even appear in younger people.
Unfortunately, cholangiocarcinoma is one of the types of tumor that is difficult to treat.
Types
Cholangiocarcinoma is of three main types:
- Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma- This type occurs in the parts of the bile ducts that are within the liver and may also be classified as a type of liver cancer.
- Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma- This occurs in the bile ducts just outside of one’s liver. This type is also known as perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.
- Distal Cholangiocarcinoma- This type can occur in the portion of the bile duct which is nearest to the small intestine.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of this condition can include the following:
- Yellowing of your skin as well as the white portion of your eyes, i.e. jaundice
- White-colored stool
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Intensely itchy skin
- Unintended weight loss
See your doctor if you continue to have persistent fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, or any such signs and symptoms that you are finding bothersome. He/she may refer you to a specialist in digestive diseases i.e. a gastroenterologist.
Causes & risk factors
Cholangiocarcinoma generally occurs when the cells in the bile ducts develop changes in their DNA. Your DNA is the material that provides instructions for every chemical process in the body. DNA mutations can change the instruction. One result is that cells might begin to grow out of control, and eventually form a tumor i.e. a mass of cancerous cells.
It is not yet clear what exactly leads to the genetic mutations leading to cancer.
Some of the factors that can increase the risk of cholangiocarcinoma include:
- Chronic liver disease- Scarring of the liver which can be caused by a history of the chronic liver disease also increases the risk of cholangiocarcinoma.
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis- This disease can cause hardening and scarring of the bile ducts.
- Bile duct problems present at birth- People who are born with a choledochal cyst, which can lead to dilated and irregular bile ducts, have an increased risk of having cholangiocarcinoma.
- A liver parasite- In certain areas of Southeast Asia, cholangiocarcinoma is associated with liver fluke infection. This can occur if one eats raw or undercooked fish.
- Smoking- Smoking is also associated with an increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma.
- Older age- Cholangiocarcinoma generally occurs among adults who are over the age of 50.
Cholangiocarcinoma is not inherited but according to studies blood relatives of a person with cholangiocarcinoma might have an increased risk of developing cancer compared to the general population. However, most of the people suffering from this condition do not have any family history of the disease.
Diagnosis
Liver function tests
Tumor marker test
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Imaging tests
Biopsy
Biopsy is a procedure which involves removing a small sample of tissue for examination under a microscope.
If any suspicious area is located near where your bile duct joins the small intestine, your doctor might obtain a biopsy sample during ERCP. If the suspicious area is located within or near the liver, your doctor will need to obtain the tissue sample by inserting a long needle through your skin to the affected area. This is also known as fine-needle aspiration. He/she might use an imaging test as well, such as endoscopic ultrasound or CT scan, as it can help guide the needle to the area precisely.
How your doctor chooses to perform the biopsy will very likely influence which treatment options are going to be available to you later. For example, if your doctor uses y fine-needle aspiration for performing the biopsy, you will not be legible for liver transplantation.
Treating cholangiocarcinoma is difficult and therefore you should not hesitate to ask about your doctor’s experience with diagnosing this condition. If you have any doubts, you can get a second opinion.
Once your doctor confirms a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, he/she is going to try to determine the extent or the stage of the cancer. This generally involves additional imaging tests. Knowing the stage of the cancer is also going to help in choosing the treatment option.
Treatments
Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
Liver transplant
Surgery that involves removing a liver and replacing it with one from a donor is known as a liver transplant. This is an option in certain cases for people with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. For many, a liver transplant is generally a cure for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. However, there is a risk that the cancer might recur after the transplant.
Photodynamic therapy
In this method, a light-sensitive chemical is injected into a vein and it accumulates in the fast-growing cancer cells. Laser light which is directed at the cancer causes a chemical reaction in the cancer cells and thus causes them to die. Typically, multiple treatments are required. Photodynamic therapy can help in relieving your symptoms, and it may also slow the growth of cancer. After the treatments, you will need to avoid exposure to the sun.
Prevention
There’s no way in which you can entirely prevent cholangiocarcinoma.
However, taking certain steps can reduce the risk of the disease.
Stop smoking- Smoking is linked to an increased risk of this condition. If you smoke, it is best to stop. If you’ve tried to quit in the past and haven’t been successful, you can discuss this with your doctor.
Reduce your risk of liver disease- Chronic liver disease is also associated with an increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma. Some causes of liver disease are not preventable. But you should take proper care of your liver.
For example, to reduce your risk of liver inflammation, avoid alcohol or drink in moderation. It is best to maintain a healthy weight. When working with chemicals, it is also important to follow the safety instructions on the container.