Spindle and Giant Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid

Abstract

A retrospective chart review of all 15 patients presenting with anaplastic spindle and giant cell carcinoma of the thyroid at King Faisal Specialist Hospital between July 1975 and June 1982 was undertaken to evaluate the clinical presentation and treatment results. The mean age was 58.7 years and 11 patients were females. Fourteen patients had nodal metastases and 12 had hematogenous spread on presentation. There were two subpopulations in this group: in eight, the average duration of the lesion was 4.5 months, and in seven, the average duration was 8.6 years. This finding suggests that the risk of transformation from differentiated to anaplastic thyroid malignancy is not time related. Ten patients were treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy. In two cases chemotherapy was added. The mean survival for all patients was 2.5 months. Treatment was largely ineffective and therefore should be reserved for the small group of patients who present with minimal disease. R Cowgill, MA Ali, JO Sieck, S El-Akkad, Spindle and Giant Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid. 1983; 3(3): 159-162