Rare Primary Thyroid Epithelial Tumors Lester D.R. Thompson MUCOEPIDERMOID CARCINOMA Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a malignant epithelial neoplasm. By definition, an MEC contains a combination of mucinous and epidermoid components.1…
Medullary Carcinoma Paul W. Biddinger DEFINITION Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a malignant tumor of the thyroid gland that exhibits C-cell differentiation. Synonyms include C-cell carcinoma, solid carcinoma, solid amyloidotic carcinoma,…
Primary Thyroid Lymphoma Lester D.R. Thompson Christine Garcia Roth DEFINITION Primary thyroid gland lymphoma is an uncommon neoplasm that encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases.1,2,3,4 Primary thyroid gland lymphomas are…
Principles of Molecular Diagnostics in Thyroid Samples Marina N. Nikiforova GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Molecular diagnostics utilize the basic dogma of molecular biology that describes the relationship among DNA,…
Follicular Carcinoma Yuri E. Nikiforov N. Paul Ohori DEFINITION Follicular carcinoma is a malignant well-differentiated tumor of thyroid follicular cells that lacks the diagnostic nuclear features of papillary carcinoma. When…
Anaplastic (Undifferentiated) Carcinoma Yuri E. Nikiforov Raja R. Seethala DEFINITION Anaplastic carcinoma is a highly aggressive malignant thyroid tumor composed of undifferentiated cells that demonstrate immunohistochemical or ultrastructural features of…
Tumors Metastatic to the Thyroid Lester D.R. Thompson DEFINITION Tumors developed in the thyroid gland as a result of lymphatic or hematogenous spread from distant sites are considered metastatic disease…
Gross Examination Raja R. Seethala Yuri E. Nikiforov INTRODUCTION An understanding of the normal surgical thyroid anatomy is a requisite for accurate gross characterization of lesions. The fundamentals of thyroid…
Molecular Testing of Thyroid FNA Samples Marina N. Nikiforova Yuri E. Nikiforov Molecular testing of thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples is gaining its use as an ancillary diagnostic tool…
Follicular Adenoma Yuri E. Nikiforov N. Paul Ohori DEFINITION Follicular adenoma is a benign, encapsulated, noninvasive tumor originating from thyroid follicular cells. When used without additional qualifiers, this term typically…
