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Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Predominant Spindle Cell Component: Report of Two Rare Cases and Discussion on the Differential Diagnosis with Other Spindled Thyroid Neoplasm

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Abstract

Spindle cell transformation or metaplasia has been so far demonstrated in the context of both benign and malignant conditions. Spindle cell lesions of the thyroid gland of either primary or secondary origin to metastatic disease represent rare entities. We describe two patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) showing spindle cell metaplasia, submitted to thyroidectomy due to euthyroid bilateral nodular thyroid disease. Cytological examination of fine-needle aspiration biopsy performed in the dominant nodules was consistent with follicular neoplasm in one case and with a hyperplastic/adenomatous nodule in the other patient. Histological examination disclosed unencapsulated follicular variant of PTC with spindle cell metaplasia in either cases. Both patients are doing well without clinical or laboratory evidence of PTC recurrence at 3- and 1-year follow-up, respectively. We present the clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical aspects of these unusual cases and thoroughly discuss the differential diagnosis with other spindle cell lesions of the thyroid gland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pathology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

    Stefania Corrado & Antonio Maiorana

  2. Institute of Endocrinology, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Salvatore Maria Corsello, Alfredo Pontecorvi & Giampaolo Papi

  3. Institute of Pathology, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Esther Diana Rossi & Guido Fadda

  4. Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Reparto di Endocrinologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 1, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Giampaolo Papi

Authors
  1. Stefania Corrado
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  2. Salvatore Maria Corsello
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  3. Antonio Maiorana
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  4. Esther Diana Rossi
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  5. Alfredo Pontecorvi
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  6. Guido Fadda
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  7. Giampaolo Papi
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Correspondence to Giampaolo Papi.

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Corrado, S., Corsello, S.M., Maiorana, A. et al. Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Predominant Spindle Cell Component: Report of Two Rare Cases and Discussion on the Differential Diagnosis with Other Spindled Thyroid Neoplasm. Endocr Pathol 25, 307–314 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-013-9290-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-013-9290-7

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