J Korean Soc Ultrasound Med.  2013 Jun;32(2):128-131.

Comparison of Sonographic and Histopathologic Findings of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma According to Galectin-3 immuno-staining in Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology Specimens

• Kim JA
• Son EJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to compare the sonographic (US) and histopathologic findings of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) according to Galectin-3 (G3) immuno-staining positivity from fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
US-FNA and G3 immuno-staining were performed in 343 patients. Among them, 60 patients diagnosed with PTC by surgery were included in this study. Retrospective analysis of the clinical and US findings of PTCs (size, orientation, margin, composition, echogenicity, vascularity, and parenchymal echogenicity) was performed and postsurgical pathologic findings (extrathyroidal extension (ETE), multifocality, and lymph node metastasis) were analyzed. We analyzed the correlation of US and pathologic findings according to G3 positivity from FNA specimens.
RESULTS
Twenty six patients (43%) were G3 negative and 34 patients (57%) were G3 positive. No significant differences in US findings and pathologic findings of size, multifocality, and ETE were observed between G3 positive and negative groups (p>0.05). However, the G3 positive group had a significantly higher rate of lymph node metastasis than the G3 negative group (p=0.008).
CONCLUSIONS
US findings did not differ between G3 positive and negative PTCs from FNAB specimens, however, the G3 positive group had more frequent lymph node metastasis.

Keyword

Ultrasound; Galectin-3; Papillary thyroid carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Carcinoma
Factor IX
Galectin 3
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
Orientation
Retrospective Studies
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms
Carcinoma
Factor IX
Galectin 3
Thyroid Neoplasms