title: Non-tumor-associated psammoma bodies in the thyroid.
abstract: Psammoma bodies in the thyroid are common in glands with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Psammoma bodies that are not associated with tumor cells, however, represent a diagnostic problem for pathologists. Should we treat isolated psammoma bodies as representing metastatic disease? This study included patients who had non-tumor-associated psammoma bodies in their thyroids or in the perithyroidal lymph nodes. Clinical, pathologic, and follow-up information was obtained for the patients. Our results indicate that 27 of 29 patients had a contralateral or an ipsilateral tumor, the majority of which were papillary. We noted a high frequency of microscopic carcinomas (12/27) and of tall cell variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma (8/27 cases). Based on these findings, we recommend that thyroid glands with non-tumor-associated psammoma bodies and no histologically identified carcinoma be entirely submitted to identify any microscopic carcinoma. If no carcinoma is identified in a lobectomy, discussion with the surgeon should indicate the need for close clinical follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: E Leon
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery