Open AccessEmergency total thyroidectomy for bleeding anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: A viable option for palliation
Author(s) -
Sunil Kumar,
Mohit Joshi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
indian journal of palliative care/indian journal of palliative care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.395
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1998-3735
pISSN - 0973-1075
DOI - 10.4103/0973-1075.78452
Subject(s) - medicine , thyroidectomy , total thyroidectomy , surgery , thyroid , complication , emergency surgery , anaplastic thyroid cancer , thyroid carcinoma , emergency treatment , general surgery , emergency department , thyroid cancer , emergency medicine , nursing
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare and highly aggressive thyroid neoplasm. Bleeding from tumor is an uncommon, but potentially life-threatening complication requiring sophisticated intervention facilities which are not usually available at odd hours in emergency. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with exsanguinating hemorrhage from ATC and was treated by emergency total thyroidectomy. The patient is well three months postoperatively. Emergency total thyroidectomy is a viable option for palliation in ATC presenting with bleeding.