title: [Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid. Our experience].
abstract: Nineteen patients, 12 females and 7 males, with mean age of 66 years, with anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid, were treated between 1976 and 1990. At diagnosis, in 4 patients disease presented as intraglandular mass, in 11 as infiltration of the adjacent structures and as distant metastases in 4 cases. A preceding history of goiter was found in 7 patients. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 9 patients, subtotal thyroidectomy in 1 and a diagnostic biopsy only in 4 cases. All patients received external radiotherapy (4000-6000 rads). Median global survival was 6 months with no difference between patients receiving thyroidectomy plus RT or biopsy plus RT. All patients died of tumor except 1 who is alive and free of disease at 120 months. Combination modality treatment of anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid represent, at times, a rational palliative therapeutic approach, even if, in selected patients with early intraglandular disease, total surgery may represent a curative therapy.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chirurgia ed Oncologia, Università degli Studi di Cagliari.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolosi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Addis
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Massidda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malloci
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes
vernacular_title: Il carcinoma anaplastico della tiroide. Nostra esperienza.