Hurthle cells in fine needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid: a potential diagnostic dilemma?
- Author:
Yin-Ping Wong
;
Nurismah MD Isa
;
Reena Rahayu Md Zin
;
Sharifah Noor Akmal
- Publication Type:Case Reports
- Keywords:
Hurthle cells;
thyroid;
diagnostic pitfalls;
fine needle aspiration
- From:The Malaysian Journal of Pathology
2015;37(1):49-52
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Hurthle cells are not uncommonly encountered in thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC)
smears. They are easily recognized by their distinct cytomorphology in cytological preparations, i.e.
large, polygonal cells displaying uniform, rounded nuclei, often prominent nucleoli and abundant
granular cytoplasm. Hurthle cells can be seen in both non-neoplastic and neoplastic thyroid lesions
which can pose diagnostic dilemma to cytopathologists, especially when the lesions are focally sampled.
We describe a case of solitary thyroid nodule in a 46-year-old male, whose aspirates comprised
predominantly of Hurthle cells exhibiting nuclear features suspicious of papillary carcinoma, which
turned out to be Hurthle cell carcinoma on subsequent histological sections. The potential diagnostic
pitfalls of Hurthle cell lesions and associated conditions in thyroid FNA are discussed. The presence
of Hurthle cell change in a wide variety of thyroid lesions can be diagnostically challenging. However,
accurate diagnosis can still be made with careful observation of the predominant cell population,
nuclear features and whether there is abundant colloid or lymphocytes in the background.
- Full text:P020150915424356174260.pdf
