Objective To evaluate the survival and prognostic factors of patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC).

Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and follow-up data of 88 ATC patients treated in our hospital from January 2003 to May 2016. Potential prognostic factors were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox multivariate analyses.

Results The median survival time of 88 patients was 3.5 months. The 6-month, 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 30.7%, 22.7% and 11.4%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed the factors influencing the prognosis of ATC patients were tumor size, distant metastases, stage, age, lymph node metastasis, leukocytosis, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, pre-existing goiter, local resection and comprehensive therapy. Multivariate analysis indicated that age, stage, leukocytosis and comprehensive therapy were independently associated with the prognosis.

Conclusion ATC patients have poor prognosis. Combined surgery and chemoradiotherapy could improve overall survival of stage IVA and IVB ATC patients. Inoperable patients could still benefit from chemoradiotherapy.