Papillary thyroid carcinoma with honeycomb-like multiple small cysts: characteristic features on ultrasonography.
BACKGROUND
Thyroid nodules with cystic content or mixed sponge-like aspect on ultrasonography and a concordant cytology are strongly predictive of benignity.


OBJECTIVE
We present 8 patients with honeycomb-like papillary thyroid carcinoma with multiple small cysts on ultrasonography.


METHODS
The patients were 6 women and 2 men aged between 30 and 57 years. The tumors of these patients showed honeycomb-like multiple small cysts that were aggregated in some area of the thyroid gland on ultrasonography. Histopathological examination indicated a well-differentiated type of papillary thyroid carcinoma with multiple small cysts and a small solid lesion. The cysts were lined with papillary carcinoma cells, and normal thyroid tissue lay between the cysts.


RESULTS
There is a peculiar type of papillary thyroid carcinoma that histopathologically shows honeycomb-like multiple small cysts in the thyroid gland. Ultrasonography can be used to identify characteristic features of honeycomb-like multiple small cysts in the thyroid gland in such patients.


CONCLUSIONS
One should be aware of this peculiar type of papillary thyroid carcinoma with honeycomb-like multiple small cysts on ultrasonography, although thyroid nodules with cystic lesions are generally regarded as benign in clinical management.
Kuma Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo, Japan.
Kaoru
K
Kobayashi
Kuma Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo, Japan.
Mitsuyoshi
M
Hirokawa
Kuma Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo, Japan.
Tomonori
T
Yabuta
Kuma Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo, Japan.
Mitsuhiro
M
Fukushima
Kuma Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo, Japan.
Minoru
M
Kihara
Kuma Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo, Japan.
Yuuki
Y
Takamura
Kuma Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo, Japan.
Yasuhiro
Y
Ito
Kuma Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo, Japan.
Akihiro
A
Miya
Kuma Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo, Japan.
Nobuyuki
N
Amino
Kuma Hospital, Kobe City, Hyogo, Japan.
Akira
A
Miyauchi
Cyst; Honeycomb; Papillary carcinoma; Thyroid; Ultrasonography