A Case of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Presenting with Hyperthyroidism

Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology 2001;17(1):56-58.
Published online May 30, 2001.

Hyo Sang Lee;Woung Yoon Chung;Hae youn Kang;Cheong Soo Park

갑상선 기능항진증이 동반된 미분화 갑상선암 1예

이효상;정웅윤;강혜윤;박정수

Abstract

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, which is one of the most aggressive tumors of the thyroid, has been seldomly reposted to have altered thyroid function. There have been few reports of patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer presenting in a hyperthyroid state. In the literatures, the mechanism of hyperthyroidism in anaplastic thyroid cancer is supposed that the rapid invasive growth of cancer seems to cause destruction of thyroid tissue and develops a hyperthyroid state, which is thought to be anlalogous to that of subacute thyroiditis and several types of metastatic cancer of the thyroid: rapid tissue necrosis with resultant release of thyroid hormone. Recently, we experienced a case of anaplastic thyroid cancer presenting with rapid growing mass and hyperthyroidism in a 67-year-old woman and report it with the review of the literatures.

Key Words: Anaplastic thyroid cancer, Hyperthyroidism