ANAPLASTIC GIANT-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE THYROID-GLAND - TREATMENT AND SURVIVAL OVER A 25-YEAR PERIOD

Anaplastic giant cell carcinoma of the thyroid is a rare but highly ma lignant tumor. At the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, surgery, chemo therapy, and radiotherapy have been used separately or in various comb inations in 81 patients admitted with this diagnosis during 1971-1997. In this study, we present the various multimodality treatment regimen s and their changes over the years and the subsequent differences in s urvival and local tumor control. Overall, eight patients (10%) survive d more than 2 years. All survivors were treated with combinations of c hemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Among the patients who died, l ocal tumor control was achieved by the therapy given in many cases. Th e results suggest that our current strategy with a combination of preo perative hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy, doxorubicin pre-a nd postoperatively, and debulking surgery whenever possible results in better local tumor control and an increased chance of survival.