Treatment and Survival in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma. Our Single Center Experiences

Aim: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal forms of thyroid malignancies, accounting for approximately 1-5% of all thyroid cancers. Despite multimodal treatment approaches, prognosis remains poor, with a median survival of approximately six months. A significant portion of patients die during postoperative follow-up before being discharged after the initial surgical treatment. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 13 patients diagnosed with ATC who underwent surgical treatment at Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Medicine over the past 20 years (2004-2024). Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment modalities, and survival outcomes were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. Results: The median age of the patients was 77.23 years (range: 69-89), with a male-to-female ratio of 7:6. The median survival time was 140 days (range: 10-700 days), with no significant difference between male and female patients (p=0.595). Additionally, no significant correlation was found between age and survival duration (p=0.26). The comparison between stage 4B and stage 4C patients revealed no statistically significant difference in survival (151.3 vs. 103 days, p=0.45). Patients who received chemotherapy or radiotherapy had significantly longer survival compared to those who did not (367 vs. 72 days, p=0.017). Conclusion: ATC remains a highly aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options and poor survival outcomes. Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy appear to improve survival, the small sample size limits definitive conclusions. While it is seen that surgery was the most important treatment option in old cases, it is seen that chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy options are used more as we approach the present day. Future studies with larger cohorts and molecular analyses, including BRAF mutation and immunotherapy trials, are needed to identify more effective treatment strategies.