What Are The Symptoms Of Ampullary Cancer?

Pruritus And Jaundice

Pruritus and jaundice are common manifestations in individuals who have ampullary cancer. Jaundice is a condition that causes the skin and the white parts of the eyes to acquire a yellow tint. Jaundice occurs in ampullary cancer patients because their tumor grows and blocks their bile duct. A yellow colored substance the liver metabolizes or bile moves through the bile duct, and then into the small intestine where it is further broken down. After that, the leftovers of the broken down bile are excreted through the urine. When a tumor obstructs the flow of bilirubin into the small intestine, it will begin to accumulate and leech back into the individual's blood. When bilirubin levels in the blood become too high, the skin and whites of the eyes will take on a yellow appearance. This yellow appearance is called jaundice.

Pruritus or an itching sensation of the skin occurs in individuals with ampullary cancer because of salts present in the bile when it builds up in the blood. Bile salts trigger the release of histamine by the immune system, which causes itchiness to occur around the body. Most ampullary cancer patients who present with jaundice will also present with pruritus.

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