Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid with anaplastic transformation: diagnostic pitfalls in fine-needle aspiration biopsy.
A case of coexistent papillary and anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid is presented. The diagnosis of papillary carcinoma was made by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB); however, it did not correspond to the aggressive clinical behavior of the tumor. Subsequent biopsies revealed anaplastic carcinoma in the thyroid and pretracheal tissue. This case most likely represents anaplastic transformation in a pre-existing papillary carcinoma. The limitations of diagnosing this entity by FNAB as well as some possible solutions are discussed.
Vinette
D S
DS
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
MacDonald
L L
LL
Yazdi
H M
HM
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology