The Study for Prognostic Factors in Anaplastic Carcinoma of the Thyroid.
- Author:
Seong Cheol HEO
1
;
Sang Yoon KIM
;
Soon Yuhl NAM
;
Gil Chai LIM
;
Seung Joo YOO
Author Information
1. Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ysjdoc@www.amc.seoul.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid;
Complete resection;
Size;
Multimodal treatment
- MeSH:
Carcinoma*;
Combined Modality Therapy;
Diagnosis;
Drug Therapy;
Humans;
Neck;
Radiotherapy;
Retrospective Studies;
Thyroid Gland*;
Thyroid Neoplasms
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2001;44(10):1080-1084
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anaplastic carcinoma of thyroid gland is a lethal entity: few patients live more than 12 months following the diagnosis. We retrospectively reviewed the experience with this entity at our institute with respect to prognostic factors influencing survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen cases of anaplastic carcinoma of thyroid gland diagonsed from 1995 to 2000 were analyzed retrospectively. The median age at presentation was 66.2 years; the male/female ratio was 1.17:1: and the most common symptom was a rapidly enlarging neck mass. RESULTS: All but one patient died within one year of diagnosis. Tumor size of less than 7 cm and complete resection of tumor were significant prognostic factors. Patients who had operation with or without radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy survived significantly longer than other patients. Median survival duration was 74 days. CONCLUSION: This study showed that complete resection and multimodal treatment for tumor of size less than 7 cm resulted in prolonged survival for a subgroup of patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.
