Squamous Differentiation in Thyroid Carcinoma With Special Reference to Histogenesis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid

Squamous differentiation of thyroid carcinoma was studied clinicopathologically and immunohistochemically in 29 autopsy cases. Tumor cell nests with squamous differentiation (CNSD), which histologically resembled squamous cell carcinoma, were found in 6 cases (20.7%). All of these 6 cases with CNSD had areas of undifferentiated carcinoma, representing 31.6% of 19 cases with undifferentiated carcinoma, and all but one case also showed coexisting papillary carcinoma. The CNSD were histologically associated with undifferentiated carcinoma in 5 cases, and with papillary carcinoma in one case; the CNSD were occasionally intermingled with these types of carcinoma, and there were findings suggesting a histological transition between the CNSD and undifferentiated carcinoma or papillary carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed that all the CNSD were reactive with antibodies for keratin and vimentin, whereas thyroglobulin and desmin were not expressed. It was concluded that the CNSD examined here were most probably due to extensive squamous differentiation (squamous metaplasia) in undifferentiated carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. In addition, the present results may explain the fact that cases diagnosed solely as squamous cell carcinoma sometimes show a prognosis similar to that of undifferentiated carcinoma, and may well represent extensive squamous differentiation in such tumors rather than true squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid. Acta Pathol Jpn 39: 306 312, 1989.     

Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Testis: A Case Report

A 51-yr-old man presented with an enlarged right testis for two months. The radically resected testis showed a relatively well-circumscribed ovoid mass, nearly replacing the normal architecture with central cystic changes. Microscopically, the mass was composed of ovoid shaped tumor cells of a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The central portion of the mass was filled with well-formed laminated keratinous materials and the remnant cavity lined by dysplastic squamous epithelium, indicated SCC may be derived from an epidermal cyst. SCC is among the most common types of neoplasm afflicting human beings, but it is rare in the testis. To our knowledge, this is the second report of the testicular squamous cell carcinoma occurring in a patient without other primary tumors, and the firstly reported case in Korea.     

True Pulmonary Carcinosarcoma (Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Chondrosarcoma) A Case Report

True pulmonary carcinosarcoma (squamous cell carcinoma and chondrosarcoma) originating in the right lower lobe in a 62-year-old Japanese male is reported. The tumor, measuring 5.5×3.5×3.5 cm, was markedly necrotic and its apex protruded into the bronchial lumen. Light microscopy showed that the tumor was composed of squamous cell carcinoma with sarcomatous spindle or polygonal cell proliferation and true chondrosarcoma. Immunohisto-chemically, the cytoplasm of numerous cells of the squamous cell carcinoma component was stained with anti-cytokeratin (PKK 1) and the cytoplasmic membrane with anti-epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). Although sarcomatous regions were stained with anti vimentin (vimentin) and no tumor cells were reactive for EMA, a few tumor cells were positive for PKK 1. The cytoplasm of numerous chondrosarcoma cells was positively stained for vimentin and S-100 protein. Based on these findings, we concluded that the present tumor was a true carcinosarcoma composed of squamous cell carcinoma with sarcomatous regions and true chondrosarcoma Acta Pathol Jpn 42: 751–754, 1992.     

Thyroid carcinoma with papillary and squamous features: Report of a case with histogenetic considerations

We present a case of an 82-year-old female with a painless left latero-cervical swelling, which increased in size over the course of 6 months, compressing adjacent organs. The histopathological examination, following dissection of the left thyroid lobe and ipsilateral cervical lymph nodes, yielded two intermingled morphologically distinct histotypes that included conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with cystic features. The clinical presentation, the immunophenotype, and the genotype, especially of the malignant squamous component with partial expression of TTF1, marked expression of p63 and mutation of BRAF, were consistent with the diagnosis of a papillary thyroid carcinoma with squamous component. The possibility of a squamous cell carcinoma of unknown origin metastasizing to a primary papillary thyroid carcinoma cannot be completely ruled out. This particular presentation of thyroid carcinoma carries a poor prognosis in 20% of cases, with high recurrence rates and distant metastasis.     

Primary Peritoneal Serous Carcinoma: A Rare Case and Palliative Approach

Primary peritoneal serous carcinoma (PPSC) is a rare primary malignancy that diffusely involves the peritoneum, indistinguishable clinically and histopathologically from primary serous ovarian carcinoma. The origin of PPSC has not been well characterized. Here we present a case of PPSC diagnosed in ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in a 76- old female presenting with ascites, abdominal pain, distension and constipation. PPSC is an unusual tumour but cytomorphology is distinctive enough to diagnose preoperatively. In the case report hereby described PPSC is an inoperable malignancy, hence chemotherapy and palliative care are the only offered treatment.     

Pure Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix: A Case Report

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is an extremely rare malignancy of the female genital tract with a poorer clinical outcome than squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. We report a case of pure basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. A 70-yr-old woman with vaginal bleeding was referred to our institute. A basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage Ib1, was diagnosed by a loop electrosurgical excision procedure cone biopsy. A radical hysterectomy was performed, along with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection, and para-aortic lymph node sampling. Pathologic findings were consistent with a basaloid squamous cell carcinoma confined to the cervix without an extracervical tumor. No further treatment was administered and there was no clinical evidence of recurrence during the 12 months of follow-up. Follow-up for the patient is ongoing. Although basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is thought to behave aggressively, accumulation of data on these rare tumors is necessary to determine whether their behavior differs significantly from that of conventional cervical squamous cell carcinoma of similar clinical stage. These data would be useful for defining the best diagnosis and treatment for these rare tumors.     

鳞癌相关抗原在鳞癌及相关良性疾病中的临床意义

探讨鳞状细胞癌相关抗原（squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen,SCC-Ag）在鳞状细胞癌（鳞癌）和良性疾病中的诊断和临床监测意义及其与病理分级、临床分期的关系。采用微粒子酶免疫分析技术对167例鳞癌患者、96例相关良性疾病患者和96名健康对照者进行了血清SCC-Ag水平的检测,对各组SCC-Ag的表达水平和阳性率进行统计学分析。结果表明,鳞癌患者血清SCC-Ag表达水平显著高于健康对照者和良性疾病患者（P〈0.01）,SCC-Ag对鳞癌的诊断灵敏度为61.1%、特异性为91.7%,其ROC曲线下面积为0.825,表示SCC-Ag对鳞癌的诊断较为准确,可作为重要的诊断依据;宫颈鳞癌SCC-Ag表达水平和阳性率与临床分期呈正相关,但与病理分化不相关;良性疾病患者和健康对照组的SCC-Ag表达水平分布差异显著（P〈0.05）。血清SCC-Ag表达水平可作为肺鳞癌、宫颈鳞癌以及食管鳞癌诊断的特异性指标,在鳞癌及良性疾病的鉴别诊断中有很大的临床意义。     

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus with Cartilaginous Metaplasia at Metastatic Lesions

Subdermal metastatic nodules in a 62 year old male patient with esophageal carcinoma contained both car-cinomatous and chondroid areas. The carcinomatous areas showed the histology of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and light microscopically an apparent transition could be traced from carcinomatous cells to chondroid cells. In the chondroid cells, the characteristics of chondrocytes were demonstrated by light microscopic, electron microscopic, histochemical and immunohistochemical studies, although nuclear atypism was evident, suggesting their malignancy. Furthermore, immunohistochemical studies showed that some chondroid cells contained both keratin proteins and squamous cell carcinoma antigen, which were also found in the carcinomatous cells. These findings together with the light microscopic observations suggest that chondroid cells are derived from squamous cell carcinoma cells.     

A Rare Case Report: Carcinoma Pancreas with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Synchronous double malignancies involving different organs are relatively rare and uncommon finding. We report an interesting case of double malignancy in which a patient exhibited synchronous two separate carcinomas, pancreatic and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patient was a 64-year-old male who presented primarily with symptoms pertaining to the biliary obstruction and ultrasound of abdomen revealing pancreatic head mass. HCC was detected incidentally during the investigations for carcinoma pancreas.     

C Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid Follicular variant

A case of C cell carcinoma of the thyroid with an unusual follicular growth pattern of the cancerous C cells is described. The primary tumor consisted of a mixture of medullary and follicular features while the metastatic foci in the lymph nodes and liver displayed only a medullary arrangement. Histochemical study disclosed numerous argyrophilic cells in both the follicular and medullary parts. These cells were immunohistochemically positive for calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and other peptides as well as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), but negative for thyroglobulin. Radioimmunoassay done on the tissue extract revealed a high content of calcitonin. Electron microscopy showed small intracytoplasmic secretory granules and, in the follicular lining cells, formation of microvilli. A minor component consisting of glandular structures has been reported in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, suggesting a potentiality for glandular differentiation of the C cells. In equivocal cases, immuno-histochemical examination for calcitonin and thyroglobulin is essential for accurate diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma. Acta Pathol Jpn 39: 393-399, 1989.     

Lung Carcinoma Metastatic to Microfollicular Adenoma of the Thyroid A Case Report

A 75-year-old woman with lung adenocarcinoma in whom autopsy revealed metastasis to microfollicular adenoma of the thyroid is described. A thyroid tumor specimen from this patient was initially interpreted as representing primary encapsulated follicular carcinoma of the thyroid associated with a component of poorly differentiated carcinoma of follicular cell origin. The widespread involvement of the lungs and other sites was also interpreted as metastases from the poorly differentiated carcinoma component within the encapsulated follicular carcinoma of the thyroid. Subsequent meticulous histologic examination revealed that the thyroid tumor was a microfollicular adenoma, and that the component of poorly differentiated carcinoma within it was the same as the lung carcinoma. Immunohistochemical investigation revealed that the poorly differentiated carcinoma cells within the thyroid tumor were stained positively with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and negative for thyroglobulin and calcitonin. The carcinoma cells from the lungs and other sites also showed positive staining for CEA. These findings support the view that the component of poorly differentiated carcinoma was a metastatic lesion from the primary lung carcinoma to the microfollicular adenoma of the thyroid. The present study emphasizes that attention should be directed to thyroid metastasis, even if it is within a thyroid primary neoplasm.     

Large Cell Variant Ovarian Small Cell Carcinoma: Case Report

Ultrastructural data about large cell variant ovarian small cell carcinoma (LCV-SCC) are scarce and contradictory and the role of transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM) is not clear in the assessment of such tumors. The authors present a case of LCV-SCC without hypercalcemia in a 30-year-old woman. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. Cytopathological examination of peritoneal washing showed a population of large neoplastic cells. TEM demonstrated that the neoplasia comprised two types of cells: one type showed many coarse secretory granules without dense core, and the other type was without granules and showed dilated endoplasmic reticulum and sometimes indented nuclei. The present case indicates that different underlying ultrastructural patterns, not yet well known, exist in connection with the pathological and clinical behaviour of LCV-SCC. TEM might play a role in the identification of subtypes of LCV-SCC with different prognostic and therapeutic impact.     

化学发光微粒子免疫法检测鳞状上皮细胞癌抗原的方法学评价

目的 对化学发光微粒子免疫法检测鳞状上皮细胞癌抗原(SCC Ag)进行方法学评价及性能验证.方法 对化学发光微粒子免疫法检测鳞状上皮细胞癌抗原的不精密度、回收率、线性分析、定量可报告低限值、特异性和灵敏度、反复冻融试验以及参考范围验证等方面进行评价.结果 化学发光微粒子免疫法检测鳞状上皮细胞癌抗原低、中、高值样本批内不精密度CV％分别为3.88％、2.80％和0.69％,批间不精密度CV％分别为3.98％、3.10％和3.17％;回收率为95.77％～102.25％,平均回收率为98.89％;线性分析R2为0.9997;定量可报告低限值为0.21ng/mL,CV％为15.06％;特异性为96％,灵敏度为94％;低、中、高值样本反复冻融试验CV％分别为7.99％、2.97％和1.36％;参考范围验证的检测结果均＜1.3ng/mL.结论 化学发光微粒子免疫法检测鳞状上皮细胞癌抗原方法符合实验室要求,检测性能良好,可广泛在实验室开展应用.     

Columnar Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid: MIB-1 Immunoreactivity as a Prognostic Factor

We report a case of columnar cell carcinoma of the thyroid. A 47-year-old Japanese man had a nonencapsulated thyroid mass that infiltrated the surrounding tissues extensively. Seventeen months after thyroidectomy he died of respiratory failure resulting from tracheal invasion. An autopsy showed distant metastases to the liver, lung, esophagus, and pancreas. Histologically, the thyroid mass consisted of tall columnar atypical cells with marked nuclear stratification. About one-fifth of tumor cells were immunopositive for MIB-1. The MIB-1 positive index of our case was extremely high, compared with that of ordinary papillary carcinoma. This case indicates that biological growth activity in columnar cell carcinoma may be similar to that of undiferentiated carcinoma of the thyroid, since the MIB-1-positive index is close to each other.     

Metastasis of Colon Cancer to Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Case Report

Metastasis to the primary thyroid carcinoma is extremely rare. We report here a case of colonic adenocarcinoma metastasis to medullary thyroid carcinoma in a 53-yr old man with a history of colon cancer. He showed a nodular lesion, suggesting malignancy in the thyroid gland, in a follow-up examination after colon cancer surgery. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the thyroid gland showed tumor cell clusters, which was suspected to be medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The patient underwent a total thyroidectomy. Using several specific immunohistochemical stains, the patient was diagnosed with colonic adenocarcinoma metastasis to MTC. To the best of our knowledge, the present patient is the first case of colonic adenocarcinoma metastasizing to MTC. Although tumor-tumor metastasis to primary thyroid carcinoma is very rare, we still should consider metastasis to the thyroid gland, when a patient with a history of other malignancy presents with a new thyroid finding.

Graphical Abstract

相似文献   

Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastatic to the Thyroid Gland: A Comparative Molecular Study Between the Primary and the Metastatic Tumor

A case of renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the thyroid gland is presented. The thyroid tumor showed typical features: clear cells arranged in nets with a prominent sinusoidal vascular pattern. The histologic appearance was identical to the renal tumor removed 6 yr before. A comparative molecular study between the primary and the metastatic tumor showed a common profile with a loss of heterozygosity at identical loci on chromosome 3, which provided further support to the metastatic nature of the thyroid tumor. However, the frequent existence of allele losses on chromosome 3p in both renal cell carcinomas and primary thyroid follicular carcinomas rest some force from such a molecular approach to the differential diagnosis of thyroid tumors that contain a predominant population of clear cells.     

鳞癌相关抗原升高在良恶性疾病中的辅助诊断价值

采用微粒子酶免疫法研究鳞状上皮细胞癌相关抗原（SCCAg）异常升高在炎症、肿瘤等不同疾病患者中所占的比例,为临床良恶性疾病的鉴别提供辅助诊断指标。回顾性分析我院2008年1月至4月SCCAg异常升高（大于1.5ng/mL）的住院患者共300例,采用CH ISS软件对其进行统计学相关分析。结果表明,在SCCAg异常升高的300个病例中,恶性肿瘤占68%,良性疾病占32%,两组SCCAg值升高具有统计学差异（P＆lt;0.01）;尤其是SCCAg在3.6~5.0ng/mL浓度范围时,二者差异显著（P＆lt;0.05）。结论：SCCAg升高在恶性肿瘤中的意义比较大,尤其是SCCAg在3.6~5.0ng/mL浓度范围时,对良恶性疾病的鉴别诊断有重要意义;SCCAg并非恶性肿瘤的特异性指标,它在良性疾病中的升高也占有一定比例。     

Ductal Cell Carcinoma of the Kidney with Extensive Signet Ring Cell Mucosecreting Areas: A Case Report with Immunohistochemical Analysis

We present the case of a 45-year-old patient with a renal ductal cell carcinoma arising in the Bellini ducts that was composed of histologically well-differentiated tubulopapillary and cystic areas with desmoplastic stroma, extensive mucosecreting areas, and regions depicting a transition between these two constituents. The mucosecreting component was mostly formed by signet ring tumor cells containing cytoplasmic Alcian blue-PAS-stainable mucins. The tubulopapillary and cystic areas of the tumor showed the immunohistochemical staining for low and high molecular weight cytokeratin, EMA, vimentin and Ulex europaeus, characteristic of ductal cell carcinoma. The mucosecreting cells also presented intense positive staining for cytokeratin and vimentin, and this is quite similar to observations reported in some forms of gastrointestinal cancer with rhabdoid features that are indicative of poor prognosis. Our findings suggest that mucosecreting areas with signet ring cells represent an extreme metaplastic change that can seldom occur in certain forms of renal tumors.     

Micropapillary Carcinoma of the Breast with Necrosis-like Cell Death: A Case Report

A primary invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast in a 46-year-old woman is reported. Histologically, it was composed predominantly of papillary tumor cell clusters without fibrovascular cores, surrounded by a clear space. Tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin (CK) 7, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR), but negative for p53, CK 20, CD34, c-Erb-B2, CK5, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vimentin, and c-kit. MUC1 expression was found at the reversed apical membrane of neoplastic cell clusters. Accordingly, electron microscopy showed the lack of basement membrane and presence of microvilli at the basal surface of the tumor cells. Moreover, ultrastructural examination revealed single tumor cell death characterized by patchy condensations of chromatin throughout the nucleus. These nuclear alterations were associated with the occurrence of empty cytoplasmic vacuoles, conferring a necrosis-like phenotype to this cell death. Alternative programmed cell deaths are reviewed and their morphologic distinction is discussed.