Chapter 57: Thyroid Gland- Anaplastic Carcinoma

Question 1

What is it also known as?

Answer 1

Undifferentiated carcinoma

Question 2

What is it?

Answer 2

Undifferentiated cancer arising in ≈75% of previously differentiated thyroid cancers (most commonly, follicular carcinoma)

Question 3

What percentage of all thyroid cancers does it comprise?

Answer 3

≈2%

Question 4

What is the gender preference?

Answer 4

Women > men

Question 5

What are the associated histologic findings?

Answer 5

Giant cells, spindle cells

Question 6

131I uptake?

Answer 6

Very poor uptake

Question 7

How is the diagnosis made?

Answer 7

FNA (large tumor)

Question 8

What is the major differential diagnosis?

Answer 8

Thyroid lymphoma (much better prognosis!)

Question 9

What is the treatment of the following disorders:
Small tumors?

Answer 9

Total thyroidectomy + XRT/chemotherapy

Question 10

What is the treatment of the following disorders:

Airway compromise?

Answer 10

Debulking surgery and tracheostomy, XRT/chemotherapy

Question 11

What is the prognosis?

Answer 11

Dismal, because most patients are at stage IV at presentation (3% alive at 5 years)