title: Contribution of immunocytochemical stainings for galectin-3, CD44, and HBME1 to fine-needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: In cytology practice some papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cases have indeterminate diagnoses and overlapping cytological features with benign lesions. This study was undertaken to find out if immunocytochemistry using Galectin-3, CD-44 and HBME-1 could be of help in such situations. Forty-six cases consisting of 22 malignancy (PTC) cases, 7 suspicious of (S/O) PTC, 1 follicular neoplasm, 5 follicular lesion of undetermined significance (FLUS), and 11 benign (colloid goiter) cases diagnosed by FNA were included in this study. Staining reactions were graded in a sliding scale of -, 1+, 2+, 3+, and 4+. In an assessment of 100 cells, each cell with weak, and moderate to strong positive reaction were assigned a score of 1 and 4, respectively. Staining reaction of ≥+2 and scores >100 were considered positive. Frequency of cases with ≥+2 reaction, and scores >100 for each of Galectin-3, CD-44, and HBME-1 were significantly higher in PTC or combined PTC and S/O PTC cases as compared with FLUS and benign cases taken together (P = 0.01744 to 0.00000). When the cases were compared according to histological malignant and benign diagnoses, the difference was also significant in respect of ≥+2 reaction, and scores >100 for Galectin-3 and CD44 (P = 0.04923 to 0.00947); however, there was no significant difference, when these parameters for HBME1 were compared. Galectin 3, CD 44, and to some extent HBME 1 are useful immunocytochemical parameters with potential to support FNAC diagnosis of PTC, especially in situations with difficult differential diagnoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait; Cytology Unit, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Dilip K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Salah K M
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Al-Waheeb
authors.forename: Sara S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Bahiyah I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Haji
authors.forename: Mrinmay K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mallik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; C432845:HBME-1 antigen; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm
keywords: CD-44; HBME-1; fine needle aspiration cytology; galectin-3; papillary thyroid carcinoma