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Ultrastructural aspects of papillary and sclerosing carcinomas of the thyroid
Author(s) -
Gould Victor E.,
Gould N. S.,
Benditt Earl P.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197206)29:6<1613::aid-cncr2820290628>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - pathology , cytoplasm , ultrastructure , endoplasmic reticulum , vacuole , parenchyma , cytoplasmic inclusion , thyroid , biology , basal (medicine) , cell type , anatomy , medicine , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , biochemistry , insulin
Six papillary carcinomas of the thyroid were studied by electron microscopy; four neoplasms were of the sclerosing variety. The structure of the neoplastic cells' cytoplasm was highly variable even in different areas of a single tumor. Numerous tightly‐packed mitochondria and abundant cytoplasmic filaments were frequent features. Parallel, tubular profiles were seen; these structures could represent “paracrystals” or variants of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Three of the tumors had cells showing secretory‐type granules morphologically indistinguishable from those of parafollicular cells. The characteristic nuclear vacuoles seen by light microscopy were found to consist of cytoplasmic evaginations which retained their continuity with the main cytoplasmic mass. The interstitium of all tumors contained irregularly arranged, delicate fibrils, while collagen fibers were scanty. The microfibrils were particularly abundant in the sclerosing carcinomas, in which they appeared associated with reduplicated basal laminae around epithelial and vascular structures. The recognizable cellular debris observed in the spaces between basal laminae suggests periodic renewal of cell populations in the neoplastic papillae as well as in the capillaries. Reduplicated basal laminae are a feature common to a variety of reparative processes; they have also been observed in several other low‐grade malignant neoplasms.