Poorly differentiated follicular thyroid carcinoma with rhabdoid phenotype: a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study of two cases. 2001

J Albores-Saavedra, and S Sharma
Division of Anatomic Pathology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390-9073, USA. albores.jorge@pathology.swmed.edu

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas with follicular cell phenotype are not well defined. Different diagnostic criteria have been employed for these tumors, including solid growth, nodular, trabecular, and insular patterns. Cytologic features, such as a predominance of tall and columnar cells, have been considered to be diagnostic of poorly differentiated carcinoma. However, there is no agreement among surgical pathologists regarding morphologic criteria for poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma. We report two unique thyroid neoplasms that we interpreted as poorly differentiated follicular carcinomas. Nodular, trabecular, and sheetlike patterns predominated in both tumors. They were composed of cells that were focally immunoreactive for thyroglobulin and had large vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli. A variable number of cells showed rhabdoid phenotype. The rhabdoid inclusions did not stain for thyroglobulin but contained whorls of intermediate filaments that were vimentin positive. There were foci of necrosis and numerous mitotic figures. Both patients were adults and died with multiple pulmonary metastases. The presence of rhabdoid cells in poorly differentiated follicular carcinomas broadens the spectrum of tumors with rhabdoid phenotype. More cases are needed to determine whether the rhabdoid phenotype is a marker for poorly differentiated follicular carcinoma as well as an independent adverse prognostic factor.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007150 Immunohistochemistry Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents. Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D007381 Intermediate Filament Proteins Filaments 7-11 nm in diameter found in the cytoplasm of all cells. Many specific proteins belong to this group, e.g., desmin, vimentin, prekeratin, decamin, skeletin, neurofilin, neurofilament protein, and glial fibrillary acid protein. Fibroblast Intermediate Filament Proteins,Filament Proteins, Intermediate,Proteins, Intermediate Filament
D007382 Intermediate Filaments Cytoplasmic filaments intermediate in diameter (about 10 nanometers) between the microfilaments and the microtubules. They may be composed of any of a number of different proteins and form a ring around the cell nucleus. Tonofilaments,Neurofilaments,Filament, Intermediate,Filaments, Intermediate,Intermediate Filament,Neurofilament,Tonofilament
D008297 Male Males
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D013964 Thyroid Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the THYROID GLAND. Cancer of Thyroid,Thyroid Cancer,Cancer of the Thyroid,Neoplasms, Thyroid,Thyroid Adenoma,Thyroid Carcinoma,Adenoma, Thyroid,Adenomas, Thyroid,Cancer, Thyroid,Cancers, Thyroid,Carcinoma, Thyroid,Carcinomas, Thyroid,Neoplasm, Thyroid,Thyroid Adenomas,Thyroid Cancers,Thyroid Carcinomas,Thyroid Neoplasm

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