The Immunocytochemistry Is a Valuable Tool in the Diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer in FNA's Using Liquid-Based Cytology

Abstract EN

Introduction.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common malignancy of the thyroid.

An accurate cytological diagnosis is based on distinctive cytological features in combination with immunocytochemistry.

Methods.

A number of 83 fine needle aspirations, positive for papillary thyroid cancer (44 from thyroid nodules and 39 from cervical lymph nodes), were studied using Thin Layer Cytology.

A panel of the immunomarkers Cytokeratin-19, Galectin-3, HBME1, CD-44, CD-56, and E-Cadherin was performed.

Results.

Positive expression of CK-19 was observed in 77 cases (92.7%), of Galectin-3 in 74 cases (89.1%), of HBME1 in 65 (78.3%), and of CD-44 in 72 cases (86.7%).

Loss of expression of CD-56 was observed in 80 cases (96.4%) and of E-cadherin in 78 (93.9%).

Conclusions.

Our data suggest that Thin Layer Cytology increases the diagnostic accuracy in papillary carcinoma and seems to be a promising technique for further investigation of thyroid lesions permitting the possibility to use archive material.

Positive immunoexpression of CK-19, Galectin-3, HBME-1, and CD-44 improves the diagnostic accuracy of papillary thyroid cancer.

Furthermore, loss of E-cadherin and of CD-56 expression is a feature of malignancy.