anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

Etiology

• associated with multinodular goiter

Epidemiology

• rare
• generally occurs in patients > 60 years of age

Pathology

• undifferentiated tumors
• loss of p53 tumor suppressor gene

Radiology

• radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) test
  • tumors do NOT concentrate I-131

Management

• palliative therapy
  • thyroidectomy
  • radiation therapy
  • chemotherapy
• invariably fatal within 1 year of diagnosis

More general terms

• thyroid neoplasm (nodule)