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Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid with anaplastic transformation: Diagnostic pitfalls in fine‐needle aspiration biopsy
Author(s) -
Vinette Danielle S. J.,
Macdonald Laurie L.,
Yazdi Hossein M.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/dc.2840070120
Subject(s) - medicine , anaplastic carcinoma , biopsy , papillary carcinoma , fine needle aspiration , carcinoma , thyroid carcinoma , aspiration biopsy , thyroid , pathology , radiology
A case of coexistent papillary and anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid is presented. The diagnosis of papillary carcinoma was made by fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB); however, it did not correspond to the aggressive clinical behavior of the tumor. Subsequent biopsies revealed anaplastic carcinoma in the thyroid and pretracheal tissue. This case most likely represents anaplastic transformation in a pre‐existing papillary carcinoma. The limitations of diagnosing this entity by FNAB as well as some possible solutions are discussed.