anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

Etiology: -> associated with multinodular goiter Epidemiology: 1) rare 2) generally occurs in patients > 60 years of age Pathology: 1) undifferentiated tumors 2) loss of p53 tumor suppressor gene Radiology: - radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) test - tumors do NOT concentrate I-131 Management: 1) palliative therapy a) thyroidectomy b) radiation therapy c) chemotherapy 2) invariably fatal within 1 year of diagnosis

References

Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998