Macrofollicular variant of papillary carcinoma: A potential thyroid FNA pitfall Journal Article


Authors: Chung, D.; Ghossein, R. A.; Lin, O.
Article Title: Macrofollicular variant of papillary carcinoma: A potential thyroid FNA pitfall
Abstract: Macrofollicular variant of papillary carcinoma (MFPC) is a rare variant of papillary carcinoma in which over 50% of the follicles are represented by macrofollicles. The cytologic features from 7 cases of histologically confirmed MFPC were evaluated. The cytology specimens were evaluated for the following criteria: cellularity, cluster arrangement (micro and macrofollicular), chromatin pattern, nuclear grooves, pseudonuclear inclusions, nuclear shape, nuclear overlap, nucleoli, presence of lymphocytes, macrophages and Hurthle cell, amount and characteristics of background colloid. Most cases were moderately to highly cellular with presence of both microfollicles as well as macrofollicles, but nuclear features of papillary thyroid carcinoma were absent or focal in all cases. MFPC is a variant of papillary carcinoma that can be extremely difficult to diagnose cytologically. The presence of abundant colloid, macrophages, macrofollicular follicular cell arrangement and/or absence of widespread cytologic features associated with papillary carcinoma can lead to an erroneous diagnosis of goiter. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Keywords: adult; clinical article; human tissue; aged; middle aged; quality control; cytology; differential diagnosis; aspiration; carcinoma, papillary; biopsy, fine-needle; carcinoma; predictive value of tests; thyroid carcinoma; thyroid neoplasms; papillary carcinoma; aspiration biopsy; macrophage; lymphocyte; thyroid follicle cell; adenocarcinoma, follicular; papillary; colloid; goiter; thyroid parafollicular cell; macrofollicular; macrofollicular variant of papillary carcinoma
Journal Title: Diagnostic Cytopathology
Volume: 35
Issue: 9
ISSN: 8755-1039
Publisher: Wiley Liss  
Date Published: 2007-09-01
Start Page: 560
End Page: 564
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/dc.20702
PUBMED: 17703452
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 4" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: DICYE" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Daniel Chung
    2 Chung
  2. Ronald A Ghossein
    485 Ghossein
  3. Oscar Lin
    307 Lin