Survival in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma: A Population-Based Analysis 1973-2015

Abstract

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is the least common and most aggressive of the thyroid cancers. ATC typically represents less than 5% of all thyroid cancer diagnoses but represents up to 50% of thyroid cancer deaths. The rarity of ATC lends itself to study by population-based studies. Methods. The most recent 1973-2015 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was queried for patients with a diagnosis of ATC. Data on demographics, overall survival, surgical treatment, and staging were extracted. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank analysis was used to evaluate for univariate survival differences, and logistic regression analysis was used to conduct a multivariate analysis. Results. A total of 1642 patients were identified (1021 female, 621 male). The largest age group was 75-79 years old, with the majority of patients older than 60. Univariate analysis showed that age at diagnosis, AJCC overall stage, T, N, and M stage, and surgical treatment vs. nonsurgical treatment significantly affected overall survival. Conclusions. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy. It has a relatively dismal prognosis, but younger age, surgical treatment, and lower stage improve overall survival outcomes.