Spindle and giant cell carcinoma of the thyroid: A different therapeutic approach

Abstract

The prognosis of spindle and giant cell carcinoma of the thyroid has been reported as uniformly poor. Between 1948 and 1965, 15 patients were treated by a variety of techniques (surgery, surgery plus radiotherapy, surgery plus chemotherapy, and radiotherapy). Only 1 of the 15 patients is living free of disease more than 2 years. In 1965, a pilot study was started using a combined treatment approach: surgical resection and postoperative radiation therapy, combined with multiple courses of actinomycin D. Three of the 6 patients treated in the pilot study are living free of disease more than 2 years. The combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and actinomycin D appears to be more effective than the other treatment modalities.