Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid

Papillary carcinoma accounts for 80% of thyroid malignancies3.

Immunohistochemistry

cytokeratin

positive1

Cam5.2

9/92

high MW cytokeratin (LP34)

5/92

CK7

8/84

CK19

usually positive

CK20

0/84

CEA

4/92

S-100

7/92

thyroglobulin

positive1 (8/84)

Galectin-3

22/266, 20/205, 18/187

neuroendocrine markers

negative1

calcitonin

negative3

TTF-1

positive1 (8/84)

CA125

4/92

Molecular genetics

There are three mutations commonly present in papillary carcinomas of the thyroid and each associated with specific features8:

 

Differential diagnosis

References

1 Diagnostic histopathology of tumors. Edited by CDM Fletcher. 2nd edition. Churchill Livingstone. Pages 975-6.

2 Keen, C. E., Szakacs, S., Okon, E., Rubin, J. S., Bryant, B. M. CA125 and thyroglobulin staining in papillary carcinomas of thyroid and ovarian origin is not completely specific for site of origin Histopathology 1999;34:113-117

3 Nikiforov, Y. E., Erickson, L. A., Nikiforova, M. N., Caudill, C. M., Lloyd, R. V. Solid variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: incidence, clinical- pathologic characteristics, molecular analysis, and biologic behavior. Am J Surg Pathol 2001;25:1478-1484.

4 Bejarano, P.A., Nikiforov, Y.E., Swenson, E.S. and Biddinger, P.W. Thyroid transcription factor-1, thyroglobulin, cytokeratin 7, and cytokeratin 20 in thyroid neoplasms. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2000;8:189-94.

5 Cvejic, D., Savin, S., Paunovic, I., Tatic, S., Havelka, M. and Sinadinovic, J. Immunohistochemical localization of galectin-3 in malignant and benign human thyroid tissue. Anticancer Res 1998;18:2637-41.

6 Beesley, M.F. and McLaren, K.M. Cytokeratin 19 and galectin-3 immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of solitary thyroid nodules. Histopathology 2002;41:236-43.

7 Fernandez, P.L., Merino, M.J., Gomez, M., Campo, E., Medina, T., Castronovo, V., Sanjuan, X., Cardesa, A., Liu, F.T. and Sobel, M.E. Galectin-3 and laminin expression in neoplastic and non-neoplastic thyroid tissue. J Pathol 1997;181:80-6.

8 Adeniran AJ, Zhu Z, Gandhi M, et al. Correlation between genetic alterations and microscopic features, clinical manifestations, and prognostic characteristics of thyroid papillary carcinomas. Am J Surg Pathol 2006; 30:216-22

This page last revised 9.4.2006.