Abstract
We report a case of anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid gland, which is one of the most malignant forms pathologically and clinically.A 41-year-old male visited our department complaining of swelling of his entire neck.MRI revealed a tumor invading the entire neck and a very stenotic trachea though he felt no dyspnea. A biopsy was performed immediately.Pathological diagnosis was spindle cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland with no well-differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid seen.
Although radiotherapy was ineffective, combined chemotherapy (CBDCA 500mg, THPADM 30mg) was considered to be slightly useful. The combined chemotherapy was thus continued until his death but neither distant metastasis nor severe complications were seen.Therefore, we believe that the combined chemotherapy probably have prevented such metastasis to other areas.
Paralysis of the left hypoglossal nerve and facial nerve began 6 months after his first visit. These paralyses were caused by direct invasion of the carcinoma.The patient died one and a half month after these paralyses appeared.
