Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (pronunciation: an-uh-plas-tik thy-roid kan-ser) is a rare and aggressive form of thyroid cancer that is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Etymology
The term "anaplastic" is derived from the Greek word "anaplasia", which means "to form backward", referring to the de-differentiation of cells in this type of cancer. "Thyroid" refers to the thyroid gland in which the cancer originates, and "cancer" is derived from the Latin word "cancer", meaning "crab", due to the crab-like spread of an invasive tumor.
Definition
Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a type of thyroid cancer characterized by rapid growth and spread. It is considered one of the most lethal types of thyroid cancer due to its aggressive nature and resistance to treatment.
Symptoms
Symptoms of anaplastic thyroid cancer may include a rapidly growing neck mass, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and shortness of breath. These symptoms are often similar to those of other types of thyroid cancer, but they tend to progress more rapidly in anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of anaplastic thyroid cancer typically involves a physical examination, blood tests, imaging tests such as a CT scan or MRI, and a biopsy of the thyroid gland.
Treatment
Treatment options for anaplastic thyroid cancer may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these. However, due to the aggressive nature of this cancer, it is often resistant to treatment.
Prognosis
The prognosis for anaplastic thyroid cancer is generally poor, with a median survival time of less than a year. However, survival rates can vary depending on factors such as the patient's age, overall health, and the stage of the cancer at diagnosis.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Anaplastic thyroid cancer
- Wikipedia's article - Anaplastic thyroid cancer
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski