A combined modality for anaplastic large-cell carcinoma of the thyroid

The survival rates of 55 patients with anaplastic large-cell carcinoma of the thyroid with various combinations of treatment were analyzed to estimate the most effective way to cure the disease. A total of 21 patients with infiltration into subclavial vessels, plexus brachialis, vagus, sympathics, phrenic nerve, and/or hypoglossus died within 7 months after the diagnosis and most of them died within 2 months. The prognosis of patients with such tumor infiltration was very poor. Among 34 patients without infiltration of the above-mentioned structures, 12 were treated by radiation therapy alone or with chemotherapy, 8 were treated by surgery plus radiation therapy, and 13 were treated by a combination treatment consisting of operation, radiation, and chemotherapy. The post-therapeutic one-year survival rates were 7.7, 12.5, and 75%, respectively. Therefore, it is concluded that a combination treatment of surgical operation and radiotherapy plus chemotherapy should be the best for treatment of this tumor.