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The Significance Of Galectin-3 Expression in the Immunocytochemical Evaluation of Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology

Pathology & Oncology Research volume 14, Article number: 457 (2008) Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the significance of immunohistochemical expression of Galectin-3 in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules. We studied the fine needle aspiration specimens of 38 patients who had evaluated for nodular goiter and undergone a thyroid surgery between 2004–2005. Slides had been stained immunocytochemically with Galectin-3. The cytoplasmic staining of Galectin-3 was analyzed. Three cases of five follicular carcinomas had positive staining for Galectin-3, while two had not. Two cases with follicular adenomas were negative for Galectin-3. Five cases of six papillary carcinomas had positive staining for Galectin-3, while one case (the case with a papillary microcarcinoma) had not. The single cases with medullary and anaplastic carcinomas were negative for Galectin-3. None of the cases with a benign thyroid pathology had positive staining for Galectin-3. Galectin-3 immunocytochemical staining, had a sensitivity of 61.5%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 83.3% for thyroid malignancies. For the evaluation of follicular neoplasm, Galectin-3 immunocytochemical staining had a sensitivity of 60%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 50%. Galectin-3 expression in thyrocytes is a strong indicator of a malignant proliferative lesion especially for papillary and to an extent in follicular thyroid neoplasms. Galectin-3 could be used as a supplementary marker for cytological diagnosis.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080, Trabzon, Turkey

    Safak Ersoz, Sevdegul Mungan & Umit Cobanoglu

  2. Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080, Trabzon, Turkey

    Hikmet Sert & Mustafa Yandi

  3. Department of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080, Trabzon, Turkey

    Cihangir Erem, Halil Onder Ersoz & Arif Hacihasanoglu

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  1. Safak Ersoz
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  2. Hikmet Sert
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  3. Mustafa Yandi
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  4. Cihangir Erem
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  5. Sevdegul Mungan
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  6. Halil Onder Ersoz
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  7. Umit Cobanoglu
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  8. Arif Hacihasanoglu
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Correspondence to Safak Ersoz.

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Ersoz, S., Sert, H., Yandi, M. et al. The Significance Of Galectin-3 Expression in the Immunocytochemical Evaluation of Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 14, 457 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-008-9041-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-008-9041-0

Keywords

  • Thyroid neoplasms
  • Galectin-3