title: Columnar-cell carcinoma. Another variant of poorly differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid.
abstract: An unusual case of poorly differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid is reported. The tumor occurred in a 60-year-old man, who died with widespread metastases 5.5 years after primary treatment. The unencapsulated tumor measured 8 X 5 X 9.5 cm and was composed of columnar cells. Two to three mitotic figures per 10 high-power fields were present. The cells were thyroglobulin positive and not stained for calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The light microscopic appearance was similar to that of a metastasis from a carcinoma of the bowel. The authors conclude that columnar cell carcinoma is a separate type of thyroid carcinoma that shares the clinical properties of both follicular and papillary carcinoma and carries a poor prognosis. However, for practical purposes, the authors think that the tumor should be included in the category of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas together with the so-called insular carcinomas, mucoepidermoid carcinomas, and mucinous carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sobrinho-Simões
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nesland
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Johannessen
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*