Anaplastic thyroid cancer

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma low mag

Other Names:

Thyroid cancer, anaplastic; Thyroid carcinoma, anaplastic; Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) accounts for less than 2% of all thyroid cancers and is the most aggressive type of thyroid cancer. Most cases of anaplastic thyroid cancer are diagnosed in the sixth to seventh decade of life. Women are more likely to be affected than men.

Risk factors

ATC generally occurs in individuals with a history of goiter or thyroid cancer. A history of head and neck radiation or exposure to radioactive materials may also increase the risk for ATC

Symptoms

Patients with ATC generally present with a rapidly-growing neck mass which may cause trouble swallowing (dysphagia), coughing, neck pain, and trouble breathing (dyspnea).Metastasis is present in more than half of individuals at the time of diagnosis. Patients with metastases may also present with bone pain,lymph node  enlargement, weakness, and neurological deficits.

Scanning electron microscopy image of a thyroid tumor cell adhered to Au surface.

Treatment

Treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer  is mostly palliative. In some cases, surgery with radiation and chemotherapy may prolong survival. However, this type of cancer generally cannot be cured by surgery. Surgery to place a tube in the throat to help with breathing (tracheostomy) or in the stomach to help with eating (gastrostomy) may be needed during treatment. For some patients, enrolling in a  may be an option. There is no effective treatment for metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer.

The medication(s) listed below have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as orphan products for treatment of this condition. Dabrafenib and Trametinib combination

Ultrasound of Anaplastic thyroid cancer

Treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) with BRAF V600E  and with no satisfactory locoregional treatment options.

Thyrotropin alpha (Brand name: Thyrogen®) As an adjunctive diagnostic tool for serum thyroglobulin (Tg) testing with or without radioiodine imaging in the follow-up of patients with thyroid cancer.

Prognosis

Due to the aggressive nature of this cancer and the lack of effective treatment options, the prognosis for individuals with ATC is often poor. The overall 5-year survival rate is reportedly less than 10% and most patients do not live longer than a few months after diagnosis. Those with a unilateral tumor , a tumor size less than 5 cm, and no lymph node involvement or metastases generally have a better prognosis.The most common site of distant metastasis is the lung, followed by the bone and brain.

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NIH genetic and rare disease info

• NIH info on Anaplastic thyroid cancer

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a rare disease.