Anaplastic Thyroid CancerSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
View Main Condition: Thyroid Cancer
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer of the thyroid gland.
Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid
Anaplastic thyroid cancer is an invasive type of thyroid cancer that grows very rapidly. It occurs most often in people over age 60. It is more common in females than in males. The cause is unknown.
Anaplastic cancer accounts for less than 1% to 2% of all thyroid cancers in the United States.
Symptoms include:
- Cough
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarseness or changing voice
- Loud breathing
- Lower neck lump, which often grows quickly
- Pain in the neck
- Vocal cord paralysis
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
This type of cancer cannot be cured by surgery.
Surgery combined with radiation therapy and chemotherapy may have a significant benefit.
Surgery to place a tube in the throat to help with breathing (tracheostomy) or in the stomach to help with eating (gastrostomy) may be needed during treatment.
For some people, enrolling in a clinical trial of new thyroid cancer treatments based on the genetic changes in the tumor may be an option.
The presence of a mutation in the BRAF gene is treatable with targeted medicines and may improve outcomes.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Ramona Dadu is an Endocrinologist practicing medicine in Cary, North Carolina. Dr. Dadu is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer. She is also highly rated in 17 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma, Papillary Thyroid Cancer, and Thyroidectomy.
University Of Colorado Hospital Authority
Bryan Haugen is an Endocrinologist practicing medicine in Aurora, Colorado. Dr. Haugen is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer. He is also highly rated in 9 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Thyroid Cancer, Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer, Follicular Thyroid Cancer, Thyroidectomy, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
Brigham And Women's Faulkner Hospital, General Surgery Clinic
Dr. Matthew Nehs is an endocrine surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and an associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Nehs received his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. He completed both his general surgery residency and endocrine surgery fellowship at BWH/Harvard Medical School.Dr. Nehs is board-certified in General Surgery and has clinical interests in minimally-invasive thyroid surgery, anaplastic thyroid cancer, parathyroid surgery, pancreatic endocrine tumors, adrenal surgery, gallstone disease, hernia repair, and general surgery. Dr. Nehs is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer. He is also highly rated in 21 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Hyperparathyroidism, Thyroidectomy, and Parathyroidectomy. Dr. Nehs is board certified in Surgery, General.
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The outlook with this disease is poor. Most people do not survive longer than 6 months because the disease is aggressive and there is a lack of effective treatment options. However modern targeted therapies particularly targeting BRAF variants has shown promise as well as the use of immunotherapy and other novel treatments.
Complications may include:
- Spread of tumor within the neck
- Metastasis (spread) of cancer to other body tissues or organs
Contact your health care provider if you notice:
- A persistent lump or mass in the neck
- Hoarseness or changes in your voice
- Cough or coughing up blood
Summary: This trial studies how well dabrafenib, trametinib, and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) work together in treating patients with BRAF mutated anaplastic thyroid cancer. Dabrafenib and trametinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving dabrafenib, tra...
Summary: The researchers are doing this study to find out if the combination of avutometinib and defactinib is an effective treatment for RAF dimer-driven radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer or anaplastic thyroid cancer. The researchers will also test whether avutometinib and defactinib is a safe treatment that causes few or mild side effects.
Published Date: January 29, 2026
Published By: Warren Brenner, MD, Oncologist, Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Asban A, Patel AJ, Reddy S, Wang T, Balentine CJ, Chen H. Cancer of the endocrine system. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 68.
Bible KC, Kebebew E, Brierley J, et al. 2021 American Thyroid Association guidelines for management of patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer. Thyroid. 2021;31(3):337-386. PMID: 33728999 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33728999/.
National Cancer Institute website. Thyroid cancer treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/thyroid/hp/thyroid-treatment-pdq. Updated May 9, 2025. Accessed March 31, 2026.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network website. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology (NCCN guidelines): thyroid carcinoma. Version 1.2025. www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/thyroid.pdf. Updated March 27, 2025. Accessed March 31, 2026.
Pearce EN, Hollenberg AN. Thyroid. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 207.