Anaplastic thyroid cancer: About 10 cases

Abstract

To study the clinical, evolutionary, and therapeutic features of anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. Retrospective study of 10 cases collected in our department between 1994 and 2022. They were 9 women and 1 man with a mean age of 50 years (41–78 years). The reason for consultation was a cervical swelling in 100% of the cases. Dyspnea was noted in 3 cases. The average duration of the symptomatology was 14 weeks. The tumor was plunging into the mediastinum in 3 cases. In 6 cases, there was an invasion of the trachea and/or the subhyoid muscles. Lymph node metastases were noted in 7 patients, bone metastases in 3 patients and pulmonary metastases in 2 cases. Histological confirmation of the diagnosis was made on the thyroidectomy specimen in 6 cases, and on a microbiopsy of the thyroid gland in 4 cases. A tracheotomy was performed in 3 cases. 6 patients had a total thyroidectomy. The rest of the patients were inoperable. Radiochemotherapy was indicated in all patients. 9 patients died after a mean delay of 11 months [8 months to 13 months]. One patient is still alive with a 1-month follow-up. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a cancer with a poor prognosis. Patients managed at the stage of localized disease can expect a better survival. Therapeutic research is exploring targeted therapies that block the EGF receptor or inhibit neoplastic angiogenesis.