Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
Updates to Article Attributes
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC)is a highly aggressive form of thyroid cancer and accounts for ~1-2% of primary thyroid malignancies. Of all the subtypes, this carries the worst prognosis.
Epidemiology
Typically occurs in the elderly (peak incidence in 6th to 7th decades). A significant proportion of patients may have a history of concurrent multinodular goitre. There is a recognised female predilection 6.
Clinical presentation
Patients tend to present late. Compressive symptoms of neighouringneighboring structures can beare common.
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
May show microcalcification 3. Usually seen as an infiltrative lesion.
CT
UsefulCT is useful for assessment of tumourextrathyroidal tumor invasion 1 as well as metastatic burden. Lymphregional lymph node +/-and distant metastatic involvement is, which are generally common at the time of CT assessment 5. Typically seen
The primary tumor typically appears as a highly infiltrative lesionmass about the thyroid gland.
Nuclear imaging
- radioiodine: usually has no uptake 4.
Treatment and prognosis
Carries aThe prognosis is very poor prognosis, with 5 year survival ≈5~5%. Considered and considered invariably fatal 6. These tumors are automatically considered stage IV disease by the TNM staging system.
Differential diagnosis
Consider other infiltrative thyroid neoplasms, such as:
See also
-<p><strong>Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC)</strong> is a highly aggressive form of <a href="/articles/assessment-of-thyroid-lesions-general">thyroid cancer</a> and accounts for ~1-2% of primary thyroid malignancies. Of all the subtypes, this carries the worst prognosis.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Typically occurs in the elderly (peak incidence in 6<sup>th</sup> to 7<sup>th </sup>decades). A significant proportion of patients may have a history of concurrent <a href="/articles/multinodular-goitre">multinodular goitre</a>. There is recognised female predilection <sup>6</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Patients tend to present late. Compressive symptoms of neighouring structures can be common.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>May show microcalcification <sup>3</sup>. Usually seen as an infiltrative lesion.</p><h5>CT</h5><p>Useful for assessment of tumour invasion <sup>1</sup> as well as metastatic burden. Lymph node +/- metastatic involvement is generally common at time of CT assessment <sup>5</sup>. Typically seen as a highly infiltrative lesion about the thyroid gland</p><h5>Nuclear imaging</h5><ul><li>radioiodine: usually has no uptake <sup>4</sup>.</li></ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Carries a very poor prognosis with 5 year survival ≈5%. Considered invariably fatal <sup>6</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>Consider other infiltrative thyroid neoplasms, such as:</p><ul>- +<p><strong>Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma </strong>is a highly aggressive form of <a href="/articles/assessment-of-thyroid-lesions-general">thyroid cancer</a> and accounts for ~1-2% of primary thyroid malignancies. Of all the subtypes, this carries the worst prognosis.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Typically occurs in the elderly (peak incidence in 6<sup>th</sup> to 7<sup>th </sup>decades). A significant proportion of patients may have a history of concurrent <a href="/articles/multinodular-goitre">multinodular goitre</a>. There is a recognised female predilection <sup>6</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Patients tend to present late. Compressive symptoms of neighboring structures are common.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>May show microcalcification <sup>3</sup>. Usually seen as an infiltrative lesion.</p><h5>CT</h5><p>CT is useful for assessment of extrathyroidal tumor invasion <sup>1</sup> as well as regional lymph node and distant metastatic involvement, which are generally common at the time of CT assessment <sup>5</sup>.</p><p>The primary tumor typically appears as a highly infiltrative mass about the thyroid gland.</p><h5>Nuclear imaging</h5><ul><li>radioiodine: usually has no uptake <sup>4</sup>.</li></ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>The prognosis is very poor prognosis, with 5 year survival ~5% and considered invariably fatal <sup>6</sup>. These tumors are automatically considered stage IV disease by the <a title="Anaplastic thyroid cancer (staging)" href="/articles/anaplastic-thyroid-cancer-staging">TNM staging system</a>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>Consider other infiltrative thyroid neoplasms, such as:</p><ul>
-</ul>- +</ul><h4>See also</h4><ul><li><a title="Anaplastic thyroid cancer (staging)" href="/articles/anaplastic-thyroid-cancer-staging">anaplastic thyroid cancer staging</a></li></ul>
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