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stage IVB anaplastic thyroid cancer

(... A-nuh-PLAS-tik THY-royd KAN-ser)
Stage IV is divided into stages IVA, IVB, and IVC. In stage IVB, one of the following is found: (1) cancer is found in the thyroid and the tumor may be any size; cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes; or (2) the tumor is any size and cancer has spread from the thyroid to nearby muscles in the neck and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes; or (3) the tumor is any size and cancer has spread from the thyroid to soft tissue under the skin, the esophagus, the trachea, the larynx, the recurrent laryngeal nerve (a nerve that goes to the larynx), or tissue in front of the spine, or cancer has surrounded the carotid artery or the blood vessels in the area between the lungs; cancer may have spread to lymph nodes.
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Stage IVB anaplastic thyroid cancer (1); drawing shows cancer in the thyroid gland and nearby lymph nodes.Enlarge this image in new window
Stage IVB anaplastic thyroid cancer (1). Cancer is found in the thyroid and the tumor may be any size. Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage IVB anaplastic thyroid cancer (2); drawing shows cancer in the thyroid gland and nearby muscles in the neck. The lymph nodes are also shown.Enlarge this image in new window
Stage IVB anaplastic thyroid cancer (2). The tumor is any size and cancer has spread from the thyroid to nearby muscles in the neck. Cancer may have spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage IVB anaplastic thyroid cancer (3); drawing shows cancer in the thyroid gland and in the esophagus, the trachea, the larynx, the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, and the tissue in front of the spine (inset). Cancer has also surrounded the common carotid artery and the blood vessels in the area between the lungs. Also shown is the right recurrent laryngeal nerve.Enlarge this image in new window
Stage IVB anaplastic thyroid cancer (3). The tumor is any size and cancer has spread from the thyroid to soft tissue under the skin, the esophagus, the trachea, the larynx, the recurrent laryngeal nerve (a nerve that goes to the larynx), or tissue in front of the spine; or cancer has surrounded the carotid artery or the blood vessels in the area between the lungs. Cancer may have spread to lymph nodes.
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