Anaplastic thyroid cancer: A case series with a wide spectrum of treatment in emergency

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies of the neck, and for the majority of these patients the cause of death is a compromised airway, metastatic disease, superior vena cava syndrome, asphyxiation, or exsanguination. In case of the airway being compromised, emergency treatment is mandatory but not well defined. We report 4 different kinds of acute presentation of complications. Anaplastic thyroid cancer; diagnostic, clinical and prognostic indication, evaluation of choice of treatment are discussed. The spectrum of treatment varies from observation and preservation of the airway from a tracheostomy to extensive surgery. When a potentially curative rese…