A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF ONCOCYTIC VARIANT OF PAPILLARY THYROID CARCINOMA. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wong, Stephen; Parker, Andrew
• Is Part Of: Pathology. Volume 47(2015)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1097/01.PAT.0000461552.69965.53
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-3025

Abstract

Abstract : Aim: To present a case of oncocytic variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma and review the literature on this uncommon variant. Case report: A 60-year-old male underwent a total thyroidectomy and right cervical level six lymph node dissection for a suspected papillary thyroid carcinoma based on FNA. The thyroid gland contained two nodules in the right lobe, 10 mm and 23 mm, both with a tan lobulated cut surface. Histologically, the smaller nodule was an adenomatoid nodule and the larger was an oncocytic variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The carcinoma cells possessed classic oncocytic morphology, positivity for succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit B (SDHB) and the characteristic nuclear features of papillary thyroid carcinoma – enlarged nuclei with pale chromatin, nuclear membrane grooves and irregularities, and intranuclear pseudoinclusions. Somewhat unusually, the cells were negative for Galectin-3 and HBME-1. There was lymphovascular invasion and three lymph node metastases were found. Discussion: The oncocytic variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma can provide a diagnostic challenge, with possible differentials including oncocytic variants of follicular adenoma and carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma and hyalinising trabecular tumour. With varying reports on its immunohistochemical profile, the nuclear features of papillary thyroid carcinoma remain the most useful diagnostic criteria for this tumour.