Is there a genetic tendency for bile duct cancer?

Does bile duct cancer have a genetic tendency? Biliary duct cancer can be divided into three types: hilar bile duct cancer or upper bile duct cancer, middle bile duct cancer and lower bile duct cancer. People are very worried about whether bile duct cancer has a genetic tendency, especially the relatives and friends of many bile duct cancer patients, who are afraid that it will be passed on to their offspring. So, does bile duct cancer have a genetic tendency?

Experts point out that bile duct cancer has no genetic tendency. Its clinical manifestations vary. Generally, the early symptoms are not obvious. The cause is still unknown. It is the most common tumor disease among gallbladder malignancies. Patients with bile duct cancer lack typical manifestations in the early stage. Most patients seek medical treatment due to jaundice. Jaundice is the earliest and most important manifestation of bile duct cancer. About 90% of bile duct cancer patients have varying degrees of skin and sclera yellowing.

Jaundice is characterized by progressive aggravation and deepening, and is mostly painless. In a small number of patients, jaundice fluctuates. Jaundice in upper bile duct cancer appears earlier, while jaundice in middle and lower bile duct cancer may appear later due to the buffering of the gallbladder. Patients may experience jaundice, which is a persistent jaundice that gradually worsens, accompanied by itching and weight loss. A small number of patients without jaundice present with upper abdominal pain, sometimes accompanied by fever and abdominal mass. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and weight loss.

Along with symptoms such as jaundice and abdominal pain, there may also be nausea, vomiting, weight loss, dark yellow urine like soy sauce or strong tea, light yellow or even clay-colored stools, etc. When the tumor ruptures in the late stage, bile duct bleeding may occur, with black stools, positive fecal occult blood tests, and even anemia. When there is liver metastasis, there may be symptoms such as liver enlargement and cirrhosis.

Among all the bile duct cancers, liver metastasis is the most common, especially for high-positioned bile duct cancer. Cancerous tissues are prone to invade the portal vein, forming cancerous blood clots, which can lead to liver metastasis and also metastasis to the adjacent organs such as the pancreas and gallbladder. We should pay attention to the cause of this disease and take precautions against bile duct cancer.