The stage of a cancer is a term used to describe its size and whether it has spread beyond its original site. Knowing the stage of a cancer helps doctors to decide on the most appropriate treatment.
Cancer can spread in the body in the blood stream or through the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the body’s defence against infection and disease. It is made up of a network of lymph nodes connected by fine tubes.
By examining the lymph nodes close to the biliary system the stage of the cholangiocarcinoma can be assessed.
Stage 1A
The cancer is contained within the bile duct.
Stage 1B
The cancer has spread through the wall of the bile duct, but not into nearby lymph nodes or other structures.
Stage 2A
The cancer has spread into the liver, pancreas or gall bladder or to the nearby blood vessels, but not the lymph nodes.
Stage 2B
The cancer has spread into nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 3
The cancer is affecting the main blood vessels that take blood to and from the liver, or it has spread into the small or large bowel, the stomach or the abdominal wall. Lymph nodes in the abdomen may also be affected.
Stage 4
The cancer has spread to distant parts of the body such as the lungs.If the cancer returns after initial treatment, this is known as recurrent cancer.
Grading
Grading refers to the appearance of the cancer cells under the microscope and gives an idea of how quickly the cancer may develop.
Low-grade means that the cancer cells look very like normal cells; they are usually slow-growing and are less likely to spread. In high-grade tumours the cells look very abnormal, are likely to grow more quickly and are more likely to spread.
Cholangiocarcinoma
