Anaplastic thyroid cancer, also called undifferentiated cancer, is rare, comprising approximately 2 percent of all thyroid cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. The cells are undifferentiated when seen under a microscope, which means they do not look like normal cells; this is a sign of a more aggressive cancer. Treatment for this kind of cancer depends on how extensive the cancer has spread and the patient's general health.
Surgery
There are two types of surgery that may be done for anaplastic thyroid cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, anaplastic thyroid cancer is automatically staged as Stage IV cancer because by the time of diagnosis, it is typically widespread and not contained in the thyroid gland. A total thyroidectomy, or removal of the entire thyroid gland, may be done to relieve any symptoms the patient is having, if the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. A tracheostomy, or surgical incision into the windpipe, may also be done as palliative surgery to ease symptoms.
Radiation Therapy
If a patient is not a surgical candidate or the tumor is unable to be completely resected, radiation therapy may be used as a treatment for anaplastic thyroid cancer. External beam radiation therapy is used, which means the high energy rays are aimed toward the cancerous area from a machine outside the body. This can help shrink the tumor and help relieve symptoms that the tumor is causing. It may also be done after surgery to eradicate any cancer that may be remaining.
Chemotherapy
Some thyroid cancers are responsive to I-131, which is radioactive iodine; anaplastic thyroid cancer is not one of these, according to the National Cancer Institute. Other chemotherapy drugs have successfully induced partial remissions; nearly 30 percent of individuals respond to the drug doxorubicin. When cisplatin is added to the treatment, a better response is seen. Radiation and chemotherapy may be used together if the cancer has not extensively spread.
