title: Solid cell nests of the thyroid gland: precursor of mucoepidermoid carcinoma?
abstract: Solid cell nests (SCN) are found within the thyroid parenchyma on routine clinical pathological examinations, but their histogenesis and clinical significance are still obscure. From November 1987 to May 1991, a total of 3,260 patients underwent thyroid surgery at Ito Hospital and SCN were noted in 42 (1.3%) patients. Serial sections of the specimens from these patients were studied morphologically and immunohistochemically. The location and growth pattern of SCN within the thyroid parenchyma were distinct from those of hyperplastic C-cells. SCN were located in the isthmus lobe in 1 patient and even in the pyramidal lobe in 3 patients. In another patient neoplastic proliferation of SCN was observed. Immunohistochemically, SCN were negative for neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin A, and S-100 protein. These findings strongly suggest that SCN are of endodermal origin and that they may be closely related to mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the thyroid gland.
authors.affiliation: Surgery Branch, Ito Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugino
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toshima
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*