Cytologic presentation and its correlation with clinical stage in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid
Chang, T.C.; Kou, S.H.; Chen, F.W.; Chang, C.C.; Liaw, K.Y.; Chang-Chien, Y.; Tsai, W.Y.; Huang, T.S.; Tsai, K.S.; Lin, C.C.
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association 86(9): 941-946
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0371-7682 PMID: 3694165 Document Number: 291181
To delineate the cytologic presentation and to determine the correlation of mean value of nuclear diameters or extent of variation of nuclear diameters with clinical stage, we reviewed the fine-needle aspiration biopsy smears with Liu's Stain of 61 pathologically proven papillary carcinomas of the thyroid and measured the nuclear diameters with ocular micrometer. The major cytologic findings and their frequency of occurrence were as follows: 1. macroscopic blue particles, 100% (61/61); 2. monolayered sheets of malignant cells, 100% (61/61); 3. papillary fronds, 42.6% (26/61); 4. multinucleated giant cells, 73.8% (45/61); 5. intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions; 39.3% (24/61); 6. septate cytoplasmic vacuoles, 39.3% (24/61). The predicted value of positive report for papillary carcinoma was 93.4% (57.61). There was on correlation between the mean value of nuclear diameters and clinical stage (r = 0.04, n = 61, p > 0.05). However, there was positive correlation between the coefficient of variation of nuclear diameters and clinical stage (r = 0.67, n = 61, p < 0.001). In conclusion, fine-needle aspiration biopsy with Liu's stain is a very useful method for preoperative diagnosis of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. The monolayered sheet of malignant cells is the most important and characteristic finding in the cytodiagnosis of papillary carinoma of the thyroid. The extent of variation of nuclear diameters may partially predict the clinical stage.