[A case of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with surgical treatment]

We describe a case of a 52-year-old man who presented with a neck tumor. Ultrasonography and a neck computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large, 6-cm mass in the left thyroid lobe. Analysis of cytological specimens obtained from the mass indicated the tumor was classIV (indicative of anaplastic carcinoma). In addition, chest CT revealed multiple small nodules in the lung, which we suspected were metastases from the primary thyroid carcinoma. To relieve pressure symptoms in the neck, we performed left hemithyroidectomy and lymph node dissection. Six months after surgery, a chest CT scan revealed enlargement of a nodule in the left lung. CT-guided biopsy of the left lung mass indicated a histopathological diagnosis of metastasis from anaplastic carcinoma. Four cycles of paclitaxel chemotherapy suppressed enlargement of the lung tumor. The patient's general condition gradually deteriorated; however, and he died 15 months after surgery. Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid is generally considered to be one of the most aggressive cancers encountered in humans. In this case, surgical intervention led to improved clinical symptoms and prognosis.