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Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: Long‐term survival after radical surgery
Author(s) -
Goldman Joel M.,
Goren Elihu N.,
Cohen Max H.,
Webber Bruce L.,
Brennan Murray F.,
Robbins Jacob
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930140413
Subject(s) - medicine , laryngectomy , radical surgery , neck dissection , carcinoma , surgery , anaplastic carcinoma , larynx , thyroid , radiation therapy , thyroid carcinoma , papillary carcinoma , cancer , pathology
Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid is a highly malignant disease with few survivors over one year. Radical surgery and laryngectomy are usually considered contraindicated. A 50‐year‐old woman with a history of papillary carcinoma treated with external radiation developed anaplastic giant‐cell carcinoma of the thyroid invading the soft tissues of the neck including the larynx. Since surgery was felt to represent her only chance for survival, she underwent laryngopharyngectomy, right radical‐neck dissection, and pharyngeal reconstruction. Three years after the surgery was performed, she is living an active life with only minor handicaps. Nevertheless, multiple nodules were noted in her lungs on recent tomographic examination. Our experience with this woman suggests that there is a role for radical surgery and laryngectomy in selected cases of anaplastic carcinoma.