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Anaplastic transformation of thyroid cancer: Report of two cases and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Mooradian Arshag D.,
Allam Charles K.,
Khalil Maryse F.,
Salti Ibrahim,
Salem Philip A.
Publication year - 1983
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.2930230209
Subject(s) - medicine , anaplastic thyroid cancer , thyroid cancer , thyroid , cancer , adenocarcinoma , malignant transformation , anaplastic carcinoma , transformation (genetics) , pathology , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
Transformation of well‐differentiated thyroid adenocarcinoma to anaplastic cancer has been occasionally reported. Two new cases of such transformation are now described. The time interval from diagnosis to the development of anaplastic cancer was 15 years in the first patient and 10 years in the second. Both patients ultimately developed extensive bilateral pulmonary metastases and died within 6 months from the diagnosis of the transformation. Hypotheses concerning the pathogenesis of the transformation and the literature were reviewed. We believe that histopathological confirmation of recurrent and rapidly progressive thyroid tumors is necessary prior to initiation of therapy.