Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyse the clinical features, prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of the patients with the diagnosis of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma treated at Ankara Oncology Teaching and Research Hospital between 2001 and 2005. The records of 29 patients with the diagnosis of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma reviewed retrospectiveiy. The association between survivai and age, tumor size, pattern of deveiopment, and type of the resection was analyzed. The median survival of the patients with 5-8 cm tumors and with tumors larger than 8 cm was 2.8 and 4.5 months respectiveiy. The difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.18). The median survivai of the patients under and över 60 years of age was 3.5 and 3.8 months respectiveiy. The difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.65). While the median survival of the patients with transformation from well differentiated thyroid carcinoma was 3.7 months, it was 3.6 months for the patients without any type of well differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.95). The overall survival of the patients with RO, R1 and R2 resections were 3.3, 1 and 3.1 months respectiveiy. The statisticai difference was not significant (p= 0.318). Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma stili carries a dismal prognosis and there is a strong need for innovative treatments.