| Subject | Contents |
| Definition | An aggressive form of cancer of the thyroid gland. |
| Alternative Names | Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid
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| Causes, incidence, and risk factors | Anaplastic thyroid cancer grows very rapidly and is an invasive type of thyroid cancer . It occurs most often in people over 60 years. The cause is unknown. Thyroid function tests are usually normal. Anaplastic cancer accounts for only about 1% of all thyroid cancers and is a very rare disease.
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| Symptoms | lower neck mass, often noted to be enlarging hoarseness or changing voicecoughcoughing up blood difficulty swallowing loud breathing |
| Signs and tests | A physical examination may show a neck mass. A thyroid biopsy shows anaplastic carcinoma An isotope study of the thyroid ( thyroid scan ) shows this mass to be "cold" meaning it does not take up the isotype. A CT scan or MRI may show a tumor growing from the thyroid gland. An examination of the airway with a fiberoptic scope ( laryngoscopy ) may show a paralyzed vocal cord. |
| Treatment | This type of cancer is treated with surgery to remove the tumor , or radiation therapy or both. Surgery may require placement of a tube in the throat to help breathing ( tracheostomy ). This tumor is not responsive to radioactive iodine, which is used to treat other types of thyroid cancer. It is also usually not responsive to chemotherapy.
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| Support Groups | The stress of illness can often be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems. See cancer - support group . |
| Expectations (prognosis) | The prognosis of this disease is poor. Less than 5% of patients survive 5 years. Most people do not survive longer than 6 months. |
| Complications | spread of tumor within the neck metastasis (spread) of cancer to other body tissues or organs |
| Calling your health care provider | Call your health care provider if there is a persistent lump or mass in the neck, hoarseness , changing voice, cough or coughing up blood .
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| Prevention | |
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