Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid: a clinopathologic study of 121 cases

Article Abstract:

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, a cancer of the thyroid gland, is characterized by the loss of cell differentiation and function. It accounts for 5 to 14 percent of thyroid gland malignancies and is one of the most aggressive tumors affecting humans. One study reported that only 7.1 percent of patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma survived after five years; the average survival period was about six months. A review of 121 cases of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, treated between 1950 and 1987, was conducted. The average survival period among this group of patients was 7.2 months. Thirty-five percent of the patients had prior thyroid cancer that consisted of well-differentiated cells. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that anaplastic thyroid carcinoma arises from pre-existing well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Of 30 tumors examined, the tough protein keratin was detected in 24 tumors; vimentin, another type of protein found in developing cells, was identified in 28 tumors; and the epithelial membrane antigen, a factor that activates an immune response, was detected in 10 tumors. Younger patients survived longer than older patients, and patients at an early stage of the disease responded better to treatment than patients with advanced cancer. Radical or extensive surgery to remove the tumor did not provide any benefit over less radical surgery. The use of multiple methods for treating anaplastic thyroid carcinoma requires further investigation. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Physiological aspects, Development and progression, Thyroid cancer, Anaplasia

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Islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas: a study of 98 patients

Article Abstract:

Pancreatic islet cell carcinoma is a rare cancer of the pancreas with an incidence of less than 1 in 100,000 individuals. These cancers may be functioning or nonfunctioning, in that a functioning tumor has the ability to secrete pancreatic hormones. To evaluate any possible influence of a tumor's function on the patient's survival, 98 cases of pancreatic islet cell cancer that had been treated at one hospital between 1950 and 1987 were retrospectively evaluated. Fifty-five patients had functioning tumors; in this group, 33 patients had tumors that secreted the hormone gastrin. Insulin-secreting tumors occurred in seven patients, and seven patients had glucagon secreting tumors. Five patients had tumors secreting vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and the remaining three patients had tumors secreting pancreatic polypeptide. Forty-three patients had nonfunctioning tumors. Although the patients with functioning tumors had a better survival rate, the difference was not statistically significant. Age had a significant effect on survival, with younger patients showing better survival. The extent of disease at diagnosis also had a significant effect on survival. Although women had an apparent survival advantage over men in this study, the advantage disappeared when the patients were compared on the basis of disease extent, and therefore there was no overall survival difference between men and women. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Prognosis, Pancreatic cancer

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Parathyroid adenoma in a cancer center patient population

Article Abstract:

Elevation of the level of calcium in the blood is often the result of abnormality of the parathyroid gland; this condition is often seen in cancer patients. A retrospective study was undertaken of 103 patients diagnosed with parathyroid adenoma (tumor of glandular epithelium that may cause excess secretion by the affected gland). Group 1 consisted of 39 patients already diagnosed with a major cancer when they were found to have parathyroid adenoma; these patients were being treated at a cancer center. Group 2 was made up of 64 patients who were referred to the center because of hypercalcemia; there were only three patients with cancer in this group. Factors identified as associated with development of parathyroid adenoma were: advanced age, female sex and prior radiotherapy to the head and neck. The most frequently seen cancers associated with parathyroid adenoma were thyroid cancer (11 patients) and breast cancer (eight patients). Nine patients with parathyroid adenoma had received prior radiotherapy for benign conditions. It is concluded that development of parathyroid adenoma is strongly related to advanced age and female gender, and previous radiation to the head and neck appears to also be a risk factor. It should be noted that the patient population and referral pattern introduces bias into these results. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Risk factors, Cancer patients, Adenoma, Endocrine gland tumors

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