Cytologic features of cribriform-morular variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: a case report.
BACKGROUND
While the histology of cribriform-morular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma has been well documented, its appearance on cytologic smears has rarely been described given the rarity of this tumor.


METHODS
A 28-year-old woman had a neck lump for an unspecified duration for which she sought medical attention. She was previously well, and there was no significant family history of illness. Fine needle aspiration of the thyroid mass disclosed columnar cells with fine to granular chromatin and nucleargrooves associated with papillary fragments and acinar formation. Occasional groups of epithelial cells forming morules, previously unreported on cytology, were present. An excision specimen of the left thyroid nodule revealed morphologic features of cribriform-morular variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.


CONCLUSIONS
A diagnosis of cribriform-morular variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid could be established on fine needle aspiration cytology, prompting exclusion of familial adenomatous polyposis and distinguishing it from other, more aggressive variants of thyroid carcinoma, such as columnar cell carcinoma.
Chuah
Khoon Leong
KL
Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. gzzckl@singnet.com.sg
Hwang
Jacqueline Siok Gek
JS
Ng
Siok Bian
SB
Tan
Puay Hoon
PH
Poh
Wee Teng
WT
Au
Vanessa Shu Chuan
VS
D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000032:analysis; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy
D013954:Thyroglobulin