PURPOSE: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a relatively rare but very aggressive malignancy, which usually results in death a few months after diagnosis. However, some patients survive for a long time, and the purpose of this study was to identify the prognostic factors of ATC. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 19 patients diagnosed with ATC in our institution between 1984 and 2002. RESULTS: The median survival was 9.4 months, with a range of 0.6-76.3 months, and the 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates were 21%, 11%, and 5%, respectively. The mean tumor size was 5.7 cm, with a range of 3.6-10.5 cm, and complete resection was achieved in 4 patients. The prognostic factors according to univariate analysis were complete resection and small tumor size of less than 5 cm ( P = 0.005 and 0.047). However, according to multivariate analysis, complete resection was the only prognostic factor for ATC ( P = 0.015). No association was found between survival and acute symptoms, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, extrathyroidal invasion, distant metastasis, age, or leukocytosis. CONCLUSION: At present, while there is no successful treatment regimen for ATC, only patients who undergo complete resection at a very early stage have any chance of long-term survival.
PURPOSE:Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a relatively rare but very aggressive malignancy, which usually results in death a few months after diagnosis. However, some patients survive for a long time, and the purpose of this study was to identify the prognostic factors of ATC. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 19 patients diagnosed with ATC in our institution between 1984 and 2002. RESULTS: The median survival was 9.4 months, with a range of 0.6-76.3 months, and the 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates were 21%, 11%, and 5%, respectively. The mean tumor size was 5.7 cm, with a range of 3.6-10.5 cm, and complete resection was achieved in 4 patients. The prognostic factors according to univariate analysis were complete resection and small tumor size of less than 5 cm ( P = 0.005 and 0.047). However, according to multivariate analysis, complete resection was the only prognostic factor for ATC ( P = 0.015). No association was found between survival and acute symptoms, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, extrathyroidal invasion, distant metastasis, age, or leukocytosis. CONCLUSION: At present, while there is no successful treatment regimen for ATC, only patients who undergo complete resection at a very early stage have any chance of long-term survival.
Authors: Wendy R Cornett; Anand K Sharma; Terry A Day; Mary S Richardson; Rana S Hoda; Jon A van Heerden; Jyotika K Fernandes Journal: Curr Oncol Rep Date: 2007-03 Impact factor: 5.075