title: Expression of cytokeratin 19 and protein p63 in fine needle aspiration biopsy of papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the immunocytochemical distribution of CK19 and p63 on archival cytologic smears of 27 papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), 22 benign thyroid lesions and 5 malignant non-PTC lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Archival cytologic smears of 27 papillary carcinomas, 22 benign thyroid lesions and 5 malignant nonpapillary carcinomas were processed for immunocytochemical detection of CK19 and p63, and results were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CK19 showed strong cytoplasmic staining in 22/27 fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) of PTCs, in 5 benign lesions and in 4 malignant lesions of the control group. p63 Positivity was present in FNABs of 20/27 PTC and in 1 FNAB of nodular hyperplasia. Eighteen FNABs of PTC (66.6%) showed both strong CK19 staining and p63-positive cells, whereas none of the control cases showed coexpression of CK19 and p63.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coexistence of strong CK19 positivity and p63-positive cells can enhance the cytologic diagnosis of PTC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Pathology, S. Chiara Hospital, Italy. mariella.bonzanini@apss.tn.it
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonzanini
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Amadori
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sagramoso
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dalla Palma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053539:Keratin-19 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C081876:CKAP4 protein, human; D053539:Keratin-19; D008565:Membrane Proteins