Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2013) 32 P1137 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.32.P1137

1Endocrinology and Nuclear Medicine Department, Centre pierre et Marie Curie, Algiers, Algeria; 2Pathology Department, CHU Mustapha Bacha, Algiers, Algeria; 3Biochemistry Department, CPMC, Algiers, Algeria; 4Radiotherapy Department, CPMC, Algiers, Algeria.


Introduction: Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma are considered as a link between well differentiated carcinoma and undifferentiated ones. The histological definition is still controversial and various criteria have been proposed.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to assess the management of poorly differentiated thyroid cancer in our department.

Materials and methods: We reported 30 patients with poorly differentiated carcinoma diagnosed during the period of 5 (05) years (2008–2012).

We analysed the management of these patients. There were classified in age, sex, clinical outcome, initial distant metastasis, treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy) and evolution.

Results: A 30 patients diagnosed between January 2008 and December 2012.

Female in majority.

Middle age 45 years (25–72), 75% with distant metastasis at diagnosis (brain, bone and pulmonary).

Surgery was the first treatment proposed: total thyroidectomy practiced in 60%; in other cases partial thyroidectomy or biopsy due to local tumor invasion.

Radioiodine therapy was indicated after surgery, not possible to be done in 10 patients because of aggressiveness.

Radiotherapy or external beam irradiation when incomplete surgery.

Chemotherapy done for two patients.

Evolution: death was reported in seven patients, stabilization performed in ten patients even with distant metastasis. Disease progression in 13 patients.

Discussion: Poorly differentiated thyroid cancers are defined as follicular neoplasm with intermediate position. There was The Turin proposal (2006): the first criteria were solid, trabecular or insular growth, they add presence of necrosis, high mitotic index and nuclear features.

The histology is the first difficulty of this entity.

The aggressiveness of this pattern need an early management and treatment. surgery and radio iodine therapy seem to give the best results when possible. Other treatment are done when disease progression with distant metastasis.

The prognosis of this entity is very bad especially when distant metastasis are at diagnosis.

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