title: Diagnostic value of galectin-3 as a marker for malignancy in follicular patterned thyroid lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The determination of malignancy in follicular patterned thyroid lesions is based on postoperative histologic findings. Therefore, affected patients are referred for surgery, although only 20% will have a final diagnosis of malignancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of galectin-3 as a marker of malignancy in these lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four tissue specimens of follicular patterned thyroid lesions were immunohistochemically stained for galectin-3. Area and intensity scores were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were found between the benign and malignant lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of galectin-3 staining were 82%, 68%, 75%, and 77%, respectively (p=.0002). Significant differences were also found between the subgroups of benign and malignant lesions (p < or =.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Galectin-3 staining is highly sensitive for malignancy in follicular patterned thyroid lesions. Diagnostic problems may arise in the presence of Hurthle cell proliferation or minimally invasive follicular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 17 Feivel Street, Tel Aviv, Israel 62995. dkyo@barak-online.net.il
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oestreicher-Kedem
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: Pepi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roizman
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Jaqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sulkes
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feinmesser
authors.forename: Yoram
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018265:Carcinoma, Papillary, Follicular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3