Multinucleated giant cells in fine needle aspirates: Can they help differentiate papillary thyroid cancer from benign nodular goiter?
Journal
Acta Cytologica
Journal Volume
46
Journal Issue
5
Pages
823-827
Date Issued
2002
Author(s)
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) in fine needle aspirates can help differentiate papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) from benign nodular goiter (BNG). STUDY DESIGN: Specimens from 100 cases of PTC and 100 cases of BNG with surgical and pathologic proof were randomly retrieved. The morphologic characteristics and frequency distribution of the maximal size and number of MGC nuclei were analyzed. A retrospective review of medical records was also undertaken. RESULTS: MGCs were twice as frequent (40%) in PTC than in BNG (26%) (odds ratio = 1.90). Most MGCs in BNG tended to be smaller and ovoid, with foamy cytoplasm, and had fewer nuclei. No MGC in BNG was > 116 μm in diameter or had > 27 nuclei. In contrast, MGCs in PTC were more diverse in size, shape, cytoplasm and number of nuclei. No significant association was found between the presence or nature of MGCs and disease extent in PTC. CONCLUSION: The presence of large MGCs with dense cytoplasm in a thyroid nodule without clinical evidence of thyroiditis should prompt careful exclusion of associated PTC.
Subjects
Aspiration biopsy; Carcinoma, papillary; Multinucleated giant cells; Nodular goiter; Thyroid cancer
SDGs
Other Subjects
article; aspiration cytology; cancer cytodiagnosis; cost effectiveness analysis; differential diagnosis; giant cell; goiter; human; human cell; major clinical study; nodular goiter; priority journal; thyroid cancer; thyroid disease
Publisher
S. Karger AG
Type
journal article