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Anaplastic thyroid cancer

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Definition:

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is an aggressive form of cancer of the thyroid gland.

Alternative Names:

Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Anaplastic thyroid cancer grows very rapidly and is an invasive type of thyroid cancer . It occurs most often in people over age 60. The cause is unknown. Thyroid function tests are usually normal. Anaplastic cancer accounts for only about 1% of all thyroid cancers and is a very rare disease.

• Review Date: 5/26/2006
• Reviewed By: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided byVeriMed Healthcare Network.

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