Anaplastic thyroid cancer | |
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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]