Common Sufferers

• Although the condition can develop in cats of all ages, biliary carcinoma typically affects cats older than 12 years of age. Most of these tumors found in cats younger than age 10 are malignant, while many found in cats older than age 14 are benign.
  
  

Symptoms

• Although some cats do not exhibit any symptoms in the beginning stages of the disease, some early signs of biliary carcinoma include loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, vomiting and abdominal swelling. As the cancer advances, symptoms become much less vague and can include jaundice, excessive abdominal fluid, seizures and drastic changes in behavior. An enlarged liver can also signify biliary carcinoma.
  
  

Diagnosis

• Diagnostic tests for this sort of liver cancer commonly check for such signs as heightened serum enzyme activities and a higher white blood cell count, a common indication of very serious disease. Imaging is recommended to help determine several important factors about the tumor. Abdominal radiography can help locate the tumor in the body, thoracic radiography can indicate if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, and an abdominal ultrasound can determine the origin of the cancer and examine the functioning abilities of the affected organs.
  
  

Treatment

• The most common treatment for biliary carcinoma is surgical removal of the tumor from the liver. Up to 75 percent of the liver can be removed without significantly disrupting normal liver function. Studies have shown that this type of surgery has been highly successful in removing the cancer, resulting in few reoccurrences of the tumors and a high quality of life after the procedure. Chemotherapy has not been successful.
  
  

Prognosis

• Biliary carcinoma is known for its aggressiveness. The cancer has an 87.5 percent chance of spreading to other areas of the body--most commonly the lungs, hepatic lymph nodes, and the abdominal lining. Although the prognosis for biliary carcinoma is generally poor, the ultimate outlook depends on several factors, including how advanced the cancer is, whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body and the cat's overall health.