title: Comparative findings of lymphocytic thyroiditis and thyroid lymphoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the cytologic features of histologically proven lymphocytic (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroitidis) and primary thyroid lymphomas (TL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical histories, smears (stained with Diff-Quik, Papanicolaou stain or hematoxylin and eosin [HE]) and surgical specimens (HE slides) were reviewed in 25 cases of lymphocytic thyroiditis and 12 of thyroid lymphomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgical specimens of thyroiditis were obtained for other medical reasons: goiter and compressive symptomatology in 21 cases and neoplasms in 4 (2 papillary carcinomas, 1 follicular carcinoma and 1 oncocytic adenoma). Seven cases were primary lymphomas, and 5 were secondary. Histologically there were 6 large B-cell lymphomas, 2 mantle cell lymphomas, 1 Burkitt lymphoma, 2 mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas in blastic transformation and 1 of unknown type. Sensitivity for the diagnosis was 67.5% for HT and 92.3% for lymphoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A heterogeneous population of small and large lymphocytes was the most frequent pattern in both diseases. The presence of a monotonous population of large lymphocytes or, more rarely, of small cells indicates a probable TL. Plasma cells favor HT. Other techniques are mandatory for the differentiation of cases with inconclusive diagnoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Autonomous University, Barcelona, Spain. elerma@hsp.santpau.es
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lerma
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arguelles
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rigla
authors.forename: Concha
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Otal
authors.forename: José-Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cubero
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagué
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Carreras
authors.forename: Esteva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eulalia
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Campora
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Galera
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies