title: The significance of Galectin-3 expression in the immunocytochemical evaluation of thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology.
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate the significance of immunohistochemical expression of Galectin-3 in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules. We studied the fine needle aspiration specimens of 38 patients who had evaluated for nodular goiter and undergone a thyroid surgery between 2004-2005. Slides had been stained immunocytochemically with Galectin-3. The cytoplasmic staining of Galectin-3 was analyzed. Three cases of five follicular carcinomas had positive staining for Galectin-3, while two had not. Two cases with follicular adenomas were negative for Galectin-3. Five cases of six papillary carcinomas had positive staining for Galectin-3, while one case (the case with a papillary microcarcinoma) had not. The single cases with medullary and anaplastic carcinomas were negative for Galectin-3. None of the cases with a benign thyroid pathology had positive staining for Galectin-3. Galectin-3 immunocytochemical staining, had a sensitivity of 61.5%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 83.3% for thyroid malignancies. For the evaluation of follicular neoplasm, Galectin-3 immunocytochemical staining had a sensitivity of 60%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 50%. Galectin-3 expression in thyrocytes is a strong indicator of a malignant proliferative lesion especially for papillary and to an extent in follicular thyroid neoplasms. Galectin-3 could be used as a supplementary marker for cytological diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080, Trabzon, Turkey. ersozs@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Safak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ersoz
authors.forename: Hikmet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sert
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yandi
authors.forename: Cihangir
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erem
authors.forename: Sevdegul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mungan
authors.forename: Halil Onder
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Ersoz
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cobanoglu
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hacihasanoglu
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3