Survival in anaplastic thyroid cancer in relation to pre-existing goiter: a population-based study

We investigated whether pre-existent goiter and well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) are associated with survival in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC).

We analyzed medical records from 94 ATC patients, drawn from the Netherlands Cancer Registry, diagnosed in 17 hospitals between 1989 and 2009.

The 29 patients (31%) with pre-existent goiter, including 8 with WDTC, were younger than those without (median, 69 vs. 76 years; P = .02). One-year overall survival was 9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3% to 14%) with no difference between pre-existent goiter or not (overall survival, 14%; 95% CI, 1% to 26% vs overall survival, 6%; 95% CI, 0% to 13%]). Higher age was associated with a worse survival (hazard rate, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.06]), whereas the hazard to die was lower after surgery and/or radiotherapy (hazard rate, .37; 95% CI, .21 to .67 and hazard rate, .22; 95% CI, .12 to .41, respectively).

ATC patients with pre-existent goiter were younger, yet survival was not significantly different between those with or without pre-existent goiter or WDTC.