Imaging is critical in the management of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, providing essential insights into tumor extent, invasion, and systemic spread. Ultrasound is a valuable initial tool for evaluating thyroid lesions, while CT offers detailed assessment of extrathyroidal extension and vascular involvement. MRI is particularly useful for assessing soft tissue invasion, and PET-CT is indispensable for staging and detecting metastases.
Despite ATC's aggressive nature and poor prognosis, imaging-guided approaches improve the accuracy of diagnosis and the precision of treatment planning. Advances in targeted therapies offer a glimmer of hope for select patients, underscoring the need for individualized treatment strategies. A multidisciplinary approach, integrating early and advanced imaging with novel therapies, remains the cornerstone of managing this challenging malignancy.