Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a fast-growing and aggressive type ofthyroid cancer. Also known as undifferentiated thyroid cancer, the disease involves the rapid division of cancer cells that don’t or barely resemble or act like normal thyroid cells.
Anaplastic cancers can grow as quickly as several weeks and can cause severe compression of the structures in the neck, interfering with breathing, swallowing, and speaking. It can also metastasize (spread) rapidly throughout the body.
Symptoms of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
The first signs of anaplastic thyroid cancer are typically related to the enlargement of the thyroid gland—a bow-tie-shaped endocrine gland located in the neck, below the Adam’s apple area.
While this type of cancer can causesymptoms of thyroid disease, such as weight loss or fatigue, these symptoms are not usually among the earliest signs of the condition.
The early signs and symptoms of anaplastic cancer include:
Anaplastic thyroid cancer can quickly infiltrate thetrachea (windpipe), interfering with breathing. ATC is also one of the only types of thyroid cancer that can rapidlyspread to other areasof the body.
What Causes Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer?
The cause of anaplastic thyroid cancer is not known, but there are severalrisk factorsthat have been identified.
If you have symptoms of neck compression due to thyroid enlargement, your diagnostic evaluation will include neck imaging studies, such as ultrasound, acomputed tomography (CT) scan, ormagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)of your neck and surrounding regions.
A diagnostic evaluation of a thyroid growth usually involves a biopsy as well. A biopsy is a sample of thyroid tissue, usually taken with athin needle, that is then examined under a microscope.This is a minor surgical procedure that requires an injection of local pain medication. After the procedure, you will need stitches for your wound.
A biopsy sample of anaplastic thyroid cancer shows undifferentiated thyroid cells. They are not as well developed as regular thyroid tissue and appear less like well-functioning thyroid tissue than samples of other thyroid tumors.
Molecular studies of the genetic mutations are critical to a diagnosis of ATC and guide treatment options, includingtyrosine kinase inhibitorsandimmunotherapyagents.
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Stages of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
The stages of anaplastic thyroid cancer are:
ATC typically metastasizes into the trachea, lymph nodes, lungs, and bones. In as many as 25% of cases, infiltration of the trachea is already present at the initial diagnosis of the condition.
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Treatment
There are several treatment approaches:
Gene Therapy and ATCSome 50% to 60% of ATC cases demonstrate mutations inBRAFand RAS genes, which are important to the diagnosis. There are new ATC treatment approaches under study, but it’s a challenge due to more aggressive genetic activity with ATC when compared with other thyroid cancers.Targeted treatments include tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).
Gene Therapy and ATC
Some 50% to 60% of ATC cases demonstrate mutations inBRAFand RAS genes, which are important to the diagnosis. There are new ATC treatment approaches under study, but it’s a challenge due to more aggressive genetic activity with ATC when compared with other thyroid cancers.Targeted treatments include tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).
Because there are not many available or effective treatments for ATC, you may also decide to participate in a clinical trial, potentially gaining access to new treatments that could be more beneficial than those currently available.
3:15What Patients Should Know About Thyroidectomy
3:15
What Patients Should Know About Thyroidectomy
A Word From Verywell
A diagnosis of an aggressive form of cancer, like anaplastic thyroid cancer, is among the most difficult challenges that a person or a family can face.
Deciding which treatment approach to take depends on whether you can tolerate the recovery process after surgery and whether you are prepared to devote your time and energy to treatment with radiation and chemotherapy.
Speak with your healthcare provider about your options and any concerns.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Anaplastic.National Cancer Institute.Anaplastic thyroid cancer.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Columbia Thyroid Center.Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.Araque KA, Gubbi S, Klubo-Gwiezdzinska J.Updates on the Management of Thyroid Cancer.Horm Metab Res. 2020 Aug;52(8):562-577. doi:10.1055/a-1089-7870.American Thyroid Association.Thyroid Cancer.Columbia University Irving Medical Center.Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.Nylén C, Mechera R, Maréchal-Ross I, Tsang V, Chou A, Gill AJ,et al.Molecular Markers Guiding Thyroid Cancer Management.Cancers (Basel). 2020 Aug 4;12(8):2164. doi:10.3390/cancers12082164.Smith N, Nucera C.Personalized therapy in patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer: targeting genetic and epigenetic alterations.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015;100(1):35-42. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-2803
National Cancer Institute.Anaplastic.
National Cancer Institute.Anaplastic thyroid cancer.
U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Columbia Thyroid Center.Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.
Araque KA, Gubbi S, Klubo-Gwiezdzinska J.Updates on the Management of Thyroid Cancer.Horm Metab Res. 2020 Aug;52(8):562-577. doi:10.1055/a-1089-7870.
American Thyroid Association.Thyroid Cancer.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center.Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.
Nylén C, Mechera R, Maréchal-Ross I, Tsang V, Chou A, Gill AJ,et al.Molecular Markers Guiding Thyroid Cancer Management.Cancers (Basel). 2020 Aug 4;12(8):2164. doi:10.3390/cancers12082164.
Smith N, Nucera C.Personalized therapy in patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer: targeting genetic and epigenetic alterations.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015;100(1):35-42. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-2803
Molinaro E, Romei C, Biagini A et al.Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: from clinicopathology to genetics and advanced therapies. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2017;13(11):644-660. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2017.76
Smith N, Nucera C.Personalized therapy in patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer: targeting genetic and epigenetic alterations. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015;100(1):35-42. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-2803
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