Potential diagnostic utility of CD56 and claudin-1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma and solitary follicular thyroid nodules

Abstract EN

Background and Aim : The pathological diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is usually easily achieved.

However distinguishing the follicular variant of papillary carcinoma (FVPC) from other follicular thyroid lesions is an area of controversy.

In this study we investigated the role of CD56 and claudin-1 in the discriminating the FVPCs from other solitary follicular patterned nodules.

We also evaluated the application of these two markers in reclassifying the controversial cases of the well differentiated tumors of unknown malignant potential (WDTs-UMP).

Materials and methods : The immunohistochemical expression of CD56 and claudin-1 was evaluated in 86 samples of thyroid lesions together with 10 samples of normal thyroid tissue.

Thyroid lesions included: 29 PTCs [classic papillary carcinoma (n = 13) and FVPC (n = 16)], 47 solitary follicular patterned nodules [follicular adenomas (n = 12), hyperplastic nodules (n = 32) and follicular tumor of unknown malignant potential (n = 3)] and 10 WDTs-UMP.

Results : The statistical analysis showed significantly different expressions of each of CD56 and claudin-1 in the FVPCs versus other solitary follicular patterned nodules.

Claudin-1 sensitivity was higher than CD56 sensitivity (81.3 %).

However claudin-1 specificity (80.9 %) was (100 %) CD56 specificity (89.4 %).

The combined use of CD56 and claudin-1(claudin-1+ / CD56 ) showed.