Cytologic Features of Poorly Differentiated

Keimyung Medical Journal 2009;28(Suppl):179-185.

Cytologic Features of Poorly Differentiated "Insular" Carcinoma of the Thyroid; - A Case Report

갑상샘 저분화 섬암종의 세포학적 소견 - 1례 보고

이혜원; 박지영; 황일선; 정혜라; 최미선; 권선영; 김상표; 권건영; 이상숙; 강유나

Abstract

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) is an uncommon and aggressive malignancy. Despite of the significant clinical implications of a diagnosis of PDTC; its cytomorphologic features have not been well defined. We report a case of a poorly differentiated “insular”carcinoma of the thyroid gland. The patient was a 48 yr old woman; who had left partial thyroidectomy twenty years ago. Two years ago; right thyroid mass was detected by ultrasonography. At that time; the thyroid function was normal. After fine needle aspiration; total thyroidectomy was done. Aspiration cytology of thyroid mass demonstrated trabecular and solid growth patterns; merging with follicular areas; absence of pleomorphism in the tumor cells even though hypercellularity; low grade of atypia; high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio; and severe crowding clusters. Grooving of the nuclear surface might be appeared. So; cytologic features of papillary carcinoma should be differentiated and preoperative diagnosis suggestive of poorly differentiated “insular”carcinoma might be of value for planning surgical treatment and subsequent therapy.

Key Words: Fine needle aspiration cytology, Insular carcinoma, Poorly differentiated carcinoma, Thyroid gland