Ultrastructure of canine thyroid tumors
Pospischil, A.; Hanichen, T.; Bomhard, D. von
Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 122(4): 233-246
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7281 PMID: 7403835 Document Number: 161722
The ultrastructure of strumae and thyroid tumours (adenomas, carcinomas, epithelial parts of carcino-sarcomas) was examined in 29 dogs and that of normal thyroid glands from 12 others and compared with light-microscopy findings. The tubular structures of the endoplasmic reticulum [see VB 42, abst. 7054], were found in 40% of the solid or solid-follicular carcinomas, including their metastases, and appear to be restricted to tumour cells. Eosinophil epithelial cells in thyroid tumours were rich in mitochondria; an eosinophil carcinoma is an oncocytoma. Intracytoplasmic lumina were more frequent in thyroid tumours than in normal follicular epithelium, but their number decreased in tumour cells as differentiation diminished. These findings confirm that pure C-cell tumours are rare in dogs and it is concluded that electron-microscopic examination is the best method for diagnosis of this type of tumour.