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Ragazzi M, Torricelli F, Donati B, Ciarrocchi A, de Biase D, Tallini G, Zanetti E, Bisagni A, Kuhn E, Giordano D, Frasoldati A, Piana S. Coexisting well-differentiated and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma in the same primary resection specimen: immunophenotypic and genetic comparison of the two components in a consecutive series of 13 cases and a review of the literature. Virchows Arch 2021; 478:265-281. [PMID: 32683537 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-020-02891-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Anaplastic carcinoma (AC) is a rare but highly aggressive form of thyroid cancer. It mostly arises on a background of pre-existing well-differentiated cancer (WDC); however, whether it evolves directly from a WDC or originates as a second independent neoplasm is still to be defined. To obtain further insights into these mechanisms, we performed morphological, immunohistochemical, and next-generation sequencing analyses to compare AC and its associated WDC in a subset of 13 surgically resected specimens. Histologically, most WDC were of aggressive subtypes. Papillary carcinomas (8 cases; 62%) were tall cell (4/8), columnar (1/8), classic with hobnail features (1/8), classic and follicular variant in the remaining 2 cases; Hürthle cell and follicular carcinomas were present in 5 (38%) and in 1 (8%) patient, respectively. One patient harbored both a PTC, follicular variant, and a Hürthle cell carcinoma. We did not find any correlation between a histotype of WDC and a specific anaplastic growth pattern. Immunohistochemically, ACs retained pankeratin/PAX8 expression but with significantly lower levels than WDCs, and they tended to lose TTF1 expression, as can be expected within a dedifferentiation process. In addition, AC showed a more frequent expression of p63 and/or SMA, a mutated pattern of p53, and an abnormal expression of p16. Genetic analysis showed that the number of mutations was higher in AC than in the associated WDC, confirming a role of the progressive accumulation of genetic damage in this transition. We observed that mutations found in the WDCs were consistently identified in the anaplastic counterparts, further supporting the hypothesis of a developmental link.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Cell Differentiation
- Female
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Immunophenotyping
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
- Mutation
- Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed/chemistry
- Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed/genetics
- Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed/pathology
- Phenotype
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic/chemistry
- Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic/genetics
- Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic/pathology
- Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic/surgery
- Thyroid Neoplasms/chemistry
- Thyroid Neoplasms/genetics
- Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology
- Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery
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Affiliation(s)
- Moira Ragazzi
- Pathology Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Federica Torricelli
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Benedetta Donati
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Alessia Ciarrocchi
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Dario de Biase
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tallini
- Molecular Diagnostic Unit, Department of Medicine (Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale), Azienda USL di Bologna, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Eleonora Zanetti
- Pathology Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bisagni
- Pathology Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Kuhn
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Biomedical, Surgical, and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Giordano
- Otolaryngology Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Andrea Frasoldati
- Endocrinology Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Simonetta Piana
- Pathology Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
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Dirilenoglu F, Kahraman Akkalp A, Bag H, Atasever Rezanko T, Kucukodaci Z. NONINVASIVE ENCAPSULATED ANAPLASTIC THYROID CARCINOMA PROMISING AN EXCELLENT CLINICAL COURSE: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA-BUCHAREST 2018; 14:255-260. [PMID: 31149267 DOI: 10.4183/aeb.2018.255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Context Noninvasive encapsulated anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (NE-ATCs) have been described in few case reports, and consistently associated with favorable outcome compared to the classical ATCs. Objective Our aim is to remark a rare histological finding in ATCs, encapsulation, which has been associated with a favorable outcome. Design We have documented a rare case of an NE-ATC with its clinical, pathological, and molecular features. We also provided a thorough discussion of all the encapsulated ATCs reported in the literature. Subjects and Methods A 50-year-old woman with an unremarkable medical history, who presented with a thyroid nodule, and diagnosed as "follicular lesion of undetermined significance" by fine needle aspiration biopsy. The patient was lost to follow-up for six years and revisited upon her neck disturbances and underwent total thyroidectomy. Results Sections of the right lobe revealed a grossly encapsulated nodular lesion, measuring 75x55x55 mm. Histologically, the tumor consisted of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components supported by immunohistochemical stains. Necrosis and atypical mitotic figures were evident. Capsular and/or vascular invasion was not identified. There were no BRAF codon 600, KRAS, NRAS mutations and RET/PTC rearrangement. During three-month follow-up, the patient was free of disease without adjuvant therapy. Conclusion Encapsulated ATCs tend to follow a favorable clinical course and may deserve conservative treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Dirilenoglu
- Near East University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Pathology, Nicosia, Cyprus, Izmir, Turkey
| | - A Kahraman Akkalp
- Izmir Katip Celebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Dept. of Pathology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - H Bag
- Dept. of General Surgery, Izmir, Turkey
| | - T Atasever Rezanko
- Izmir Katip Celebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Dept. of Pathology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Z Kucukodaci
- Izmir Katip Celebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Dept. of Pathology, Izmir, Turkey
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Dibelius G, Mehra S, Clain JB, Urken ML, Wenig BM. Noninvasive anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: report of a case and literature review. Thyroid 2014; 24:1319-24. [PMID: 24865498 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2013.0586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an uncommon thyroid malignancy. Noninvasive ATC is a rare, surgically resectable variant with only four reported cases. We report a case of an 81-year-old man who presented with a 3.1 cm right thyroid lobe mass that on fine-needle aspiration biopsy was diagnosed as an ATC. Preoperative imaging revealed an encapsulated thyroid tumor without evidence of invasion of surrounding structures and no locoregional and distant metastases. A total thyroidectomy was performed that by histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation was diagnostic for a noninvasive ATC. Given the diagnosis of noninvasive ATC, adjuvant therapy was not administered. At 14 months following diagnosis, the patient remains disease free based on positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging. A review of the outcomes of similar cases reported in the literature, as well as observations from our case, suggest a favorable prognosis for patients with noninvasive ATC. Noninvasive ATC may represent a distinct subset of resectable ATCs with an improved prognosis. The recently published American Thyroid Association (ATA) Guidelines for Management of Patients with ATC do not include this specific form of ATC. We encourage other authors to report similar cases in order to determine whether noninvasive ATC should be considered as a separate disease entity from the traditional highly lethal form of ATC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Dibelius
- 1 Department of Otolaryngology, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary , New York, New York
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Baloch Z, LiVolsi VA, Tondon R. Aggressive variants of follicular cell derived thyroid carcinoma; the so called 'real thyroid carcinomas'. J Clin Pathol 2013; 66:733-43. [PMID: 23626010 DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2013-201626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The pathological diagnoses and classification schemes for thyroid carcinoma have changed over the past 20 years and continue to do so. New entities have been described and molecular analyses have suggested better characterisation and grouping of certain tumours. Because some of the lesions have been named differently by different authors, clinicians and patients may be confused as to what a specific patient's lesion represents. In this review, we discuss the thyroid tumours of follicular origin which are clinically unusual but important to recognise as their behaviour may be aggressive, they may not respond to radioiodine treatment and they may cause significant mortality. This paper describes these important but rare lesions, their pathological features, important clinicopathological correlations, molecular correlates and prognostic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubair Baloch
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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