원발성 유두 갑상선암의 수술적 치료 후 측경부 전이 림프절에서 발생한 미분화 갑상선암 3예

Anaplastic Transformation of Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas in the Cervical Lymph Nodes: Report of 3 Cases

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare disease that shows very aggressive behavior. Most ATCs arise from pre-existing thyroid carcinomas. However, anaplastic transformation occurring in metastatic cervical nodes is extremely rare. We report herein on 3 cases of anaplastic transformation of metastatic lateral cervical lymph nodes from primary papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), which happened long after the initial surgical treatment. All the patients died of disease within 4 months in spite of aggressive treatment for the lesions. Our experience supports that appropriate lymph node dissection is mandatory at the time of initial surgery even for differentiated thyroid carcinomas. <B>(Ko</B><B></B><B>rean J Endocrine Surg 2008;8:210-214)</B>