ABSTRACT
The bile ducts are thin tubes of 10-12.5 cm in length that connect the liver, gallbladder, and small intestine. The bile ducts are divided into two sections: intrahepatic and extrahepatic. The intrahepatic bile ducts are small ducts located within the liver. The extrahepatic bile ducts include part of the right and left hepatic ducts outside the liver. The main function of the bile ducts is to collect bile produced in the liver and to carry the bile via the cystic duct to the gallbladder for storage and via the distal extrahepatic bile duct and through the pancreas to the small intestine. Tumors of the intrahepatic bile ducts arise from the biliary epithelium of small intrahepatic ductules or large intrahepatic ducts near the bifurcation of the right and left hepatic ducts. Tumors of the extrahepatic bile ducts occur in the common bile duct located between the point where the cystic duct joins the common hepatic duct and the ampulla of Vater.
