It is traditionally thought that interleukins are produced by immunocytes. However, abundant evidence indicates that neuron and neuroglia also produce and excrete interleukins. Brain derived interleukins have reciprocal action with multiple neurotransmitters, and influence animal's behavior, learning and memory. Moreover, brain derived interleukins are involved in Alzheimers disease, depression and so on. Further investigation on brain derived interleukins may improve in understanding the pathophysiology of some related diseases.

OBJECTIVETo investigated the clinicopathologic features of familial papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) compared to sporadic PTC.

METHODSBetween January 2008 and August 2014, 20 patients who underwent surgery at Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute were diagnosed with familial PTC. We compared the clinicopathologic characteristics between familial PTC and sporadic PTC.

RESULTSThe prevalence of familial PTC was 1.3% (20/1 587). The median age of patients at diagnosis was 37 years and there were 12 females and 8 males. Thirty percent of the familial PTC cases exhibited a parent-offspring relationship, and 70% exhibited a sibling relationship. There were significant differences between familial PTC and sporadic PTC in terms of concomitant chronic thyroiditis (P < 0.01), nodular goiter (P = 0.04), tumor multicentricity (P < 0.01), bilaterality (P < 0.01), histological subtype (P < 0.01), and central lymph node metastasis (P = 0.02). When familial PTC patients were classified based on parent-child and sibling relationship, there were significant differences in preoperative TSH level (P = 0.02) and concomitant chronic thyroiditis (P = 0.01) between the two categories.

CONCLUSIONSThere are significant differences in clinicopathologic features between familial PTC and sporadic PTC and between familial PTC with parent-child and those with sibling relationship. Familial PTC appears more aggressive than sporadic carcinoma. Optimal treatment for familial PTC is not yet established, but improved awareness and screening will permit earlier detection, more timely intervention, and improved outcomes for patients and their families.

Adult ; Carcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Family Health ; Female ; Goiter, Nodular ; complications ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Thyroiditis ; complications