TIEN-CHUN CHANGLai S.-M.Wen C.-Y.Hsiao Y.-L.Huang S.-H.2020-06-032020-06-0320000001-5547https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0033898921&doi=10.1159%2f000328539&partnerID=40&md5=cc04d8eed56978777f319117f4d24788https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/496701Objective: To elucidate three-dimensional (3-D) cytomorphology and its relationship with clinical stage in fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Study Design: FNAB was performed in tumors from 34 patients with PTC. The aspirate was stained and observed under a light microscope (LM). The aspirate was also fixed, dehydrated, critical point dried, spattered with gold ions and observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Findings under SEM were correlated with the presentation under LM and also with clinical stage. As a control, FNAB was also performed on a normal part of the thyroid in six patients. Results: Under SEM, normal thyroid cells appeared as round, scattered cells or sheets with a uniform honeycomb cellular arrangement. In PTC, cell sheets with uniform nuclear morphology under LM usually showed a uniform cell arrangement and with distinct cell borders under SEM. Cell sheets with nuclear pleomorphism under LM usually showed a more-disorganized arrangement and with indistinct cell borders under SEM. PTC at advanced clinical stages usually presented with a disorganized cell arrangement, indistinct cell borders and loss of microvilli. Conclusion: 3-D cytomorphology in FNAB of PTC was related to clinical stage and might be a prognostic factor for PTC.[SDGs]SDG3adult; aged; article; aspiration biopsy; aspiration cytology; cancer cytodiagnosis; cancer staging; carcinoma cell; cell structure; controlled study; diagnostic procedure; female; human; human cell; male; priority journal; prognosis; thyroid cell; thyroid papillary carcinomajournal article10.1159/0003285392-s2.0-0033898921