C cell carcinoma of the thyroid. Follicular variant.
A case of C cell carcinoma of the thyroid with an unusual follicular growth pattern of the cancerous C cells is described. The primary tumor consisted of a mixture of medullary and follicular features while the metastatic foci in the lymph nodes and liver displayed only a medullary arrangement. Histochemical study disclosed numerous argyrophilic cells in both the follicular and medullary parts. These cells were immunohistochemically positive for calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and other peptides as well as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), but negative for thyroglobulin. Radioimmunoassay done on the tissue extract revealed a high content of calcitonin. Electron microscopy showed small intracytoplasmic secretory granules and, in the follicular lining cells, formation of microvilli. A minor component consisting of glandular structures has been reported in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, suggesting a potentiality for glandular differentiation of the C cells. In equivocal cases, immunohistochemical examination for calcitonin and thyroglobulin is essential for accurate diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma.
Lertprasertsuke
N
N
Department of Pathology, Tokai University, School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan.
Kakudo
K
K
Nakamura
A
A
Tada
N
N
Osamura
Y
Y
Watanabe
K
K
Kubota
M
M
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000378:metabolism; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D012701:Serotonin; D013004:Somatostatin; D007633:Keratins; D002116:Calcitonin; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide