title: [Malignant hemangioendothelioma of the thyroid gland].
abstract: Between 1969-1984 (16 years) 17 patients with "malignant haemangioendothelioma" of the thyroid were admitted to our services. This type of cancer is usually found in patients with a long history of goiter and is a very aggressive tumor. Infiltration of surrounding tissues is mostly responsible for death by asphyxia or uncontrollable bleeding. Some patients die also from metastases, which were seen frequently in the lungs. A precise preoperative diagnosis of the disease can be achieved rarely, histological classification has improved using immunohistochemical assays of Factor-VIII antigen in tumor tissue. No "prescription" for therapy can be given: results of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy do not show significant differences (also in a variety of combinations). If the diagnosis is properly established, palliation will be the only therapeutic goal.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006390:Hemangioendothelioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D011379:Prognosis; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy
vernacular_title: Zum malignen Hämangioendotheliom der Schilddrüse.