Anaplastic thyroid cancer

Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Other names	Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, ATC
	Microscopic image of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. H&E stain.
Specialty	ENT surgery, oncology, endocrinology
Prevention	Use a thyroid guard when having any type of radiation, like X-rays or certain scans - even dental X-rays.
Treatment	Chemotherapy, radiation therapy

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), also known as anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, is an aggressive form of thyroid cancer characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells in the thyroid gland. This form of cancer generally carries a very poor prognosis due to its aggressive behavior and resistance to cancer treatments.^[1] The cells of anaplastic thyroid cancer are highly abnormal and usually no longer resemble the original thyroid cells and have poor differentiation.

ATC is an uncommon form of thyroid cancer only accounting for 1-2% of cases, but due to its high mortality, is responsible for 20-50% of deaths from thyroid cancer.^[2] The median survival time after diagnosis is three to six months.^[2] Some studies report that 10% to 15% survive more than 1 year; 3-year and 5-year survival is very rare.^[3]^[4] It occurs more commonly in women than in men and is seen most commonly in people ages 40 to 70.^[2]

^ Liu AH, Juan LY, Yang AH, Chen HS, Lin HD (2006). "Anaplastic thyroid cancer with uncommon long-term survival". J Chin Med Assoc. 69 (10): 489–91. doi:10.1016/S1726-4901(09)70314-4. PMID 17098674.
^ ^a ^b ^c Chintakuntlawar, AV; Foote, RL; Kasperbauer, JL; Bible, KC (March 2019). "Diagnosis and Management of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer". Endocrinology and Metabolism Centers of North America (Review). 48 (1): 269–84. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2018.10.010. PMID 30717908. S2CID 73415858.
^ Zivaljevic, Vladan, MD, PhD, Vlajinac, Hristina, et al. Case-Control Study of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients as Controls. Endocrinologist. 2010;20(6):308-311. doi:10.1097/TEN.0b013e3181fd02f2.
^ Rodriguez JM, Pinero A, Ortiz S, et al. Clinical and histological differences in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Eur J Surg. 2000;166:34-38.

[pmid17098674-1] Liu AH, Juan LY, Yang AH, Chen HS, Lin HD (2006). "Anaplastic thyroid cancer with uncommon long-term survival". J Chin Med Assoc. 69 (10): 489–91. doi:10.1016/S1726-4901(09)70314-4. PMID 17098674.

[Chintakuntlawar2019-2] Chintakuntlawar, AV; Foote, RL; Kasperbauer, JL; Bible, KC (March 2019). "Diagnosis and Management of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer". Endocrinology and Metabolism Centers of North America (Review). 48 (1): 269–84. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2018.10.010. PMID 30717908. S2CID 73415858.

[3] Zivaljevic, Vladan, MD, PhD, Vlajinac, Hristina, et al. Case-Control Study of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients as Controls. Endocrinologist. 2010;20(6):308-311. doi:10.1097/TEN.0b013e3181fd02f2.

[4] Rodriguez JM, Pinero A, Ortiz S, et al. Clinical and histological differences in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Eur J Surg. 2000;166:34-38.

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