title: Cytologic features of cribriform-morular variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: a case report.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. gzzckl@singnet.com.sg
authors.forename: Khoon Leong
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chuah
authors.forename: Jacqueline Siok Gek
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Siok Bian
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Puay Hoon
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Wee Teng
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Poh
authors.forename: Vanessa Shu Chuan
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Au
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D013954:Thyroglobulin