Amphicrine medullary carcinoma of the thyroid with luminal differentiation: report of an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.
A case of amphicrine medullary carcinoma of the thyroid is presented. The patient was an 18-year-old female with nonhereditary MEN IIb, submucosal neuromas in the oral cavity, and a thyroid tumor that metastasized to regional lymph nodes. Histologically the thyroid tumor was composed of polygonal cells arranged in a solid/trabecular pattern admixed with mucus-producing goblet cells and displaying focal cytoplasmic lumen formation. Immunohistochemical stains were positive for calcitonin, carcinoembryonic antigen, and chromogranin. Electron microscopy demonstrated C-cells containing neurosecretory granules as well as intestinal-type microlumina. The presence of goblet cells and intestinal-type microlumina in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid is reminiscent of amphicrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and supports the hypothesis that the parafollicular C-cells of the thyroid may be of endodermal derivation.
Dominguez-Malagon
H
H
Department of Pathology, Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia, Mexico City, Mexico.
Macias-Martinez
V
V
Molina-Cardenas
H
H
Suster
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000032:analysis; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D015415:Biomarkers; D002116:Calcitonin