Korean J Pathol.  2014 Jun;48(3):201-208.

Classic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Tall Cell Features and Tall Cell Variant Have Similar Clinicopathologic Features

• Oh WJ
• Lee YS
• Cho U
• Bae JS
• Lee S
• Kim MH
• Lim DJ
• Park GS
• Lee YS
• Jung CK

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (TCVPTC) is more aggressive than classic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), but the percentage of tall cells needed to diagnose TCVPTC remains controversial. In addition, little is known about the clinicopathologic features of classic PTC with tall cell features (TCF).
METHODS
We retrospectively selected and reviewed the clinicopathologic features and presence of the BRAF mutation in 203 cases of classic PTC, 149 cases of classic PTC with TCF, and 95 cases of TCVPTCs, which were defined as PTCs having <10%, 10-50%, and > or =50% tall cells, respectively.
RESULTS
TCVPTCs and classic PTCs with TCF did not vary significantly in clinicopathologic characteristics such as pathologic (p) T stage, extrathyroidal extension, pN stage, lateral lymph node metastasis, or BRAF mutations; however, these features differed significantly in TCVPTCs and classic PTCs with TCF in comparison to classic PTCs. Similar results were obtained in a subanalysis of patients with microcarcinomas (< or =1.0 cm in size).
CONCLUSIONS
Classic PTCs with TCF showed a similar BRAF mutation rate and clinicopathologic features to TCVPTCs, but more aggressive characteristics than classic PTCs.

Keyword

Thyroid neoplasms; Histologic types; Classification; Tall cell features

MeSH Terms

Classification
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Mutation Rate
Neoplasm Metastasis
Retrospective Studies
Thyroid Neoplasms*