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Scarring in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: report of two new cases with exuberant nodular fasciitis‐like stroma
Author(s) -
Paolo Toti,
Piero Tanganelli,
Karin Schürfeld,
Michela Stumpo,
L. Barbagli,
Rosella Vatti,
Pietro Luzi
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2559.1999.035005418.x
Subject(s) - stroma , pathology , nodular fasciitis , thyroid carcinoma , thyroid , thyroid cancer , carcinoma , immunohistochemistry , myofibroblast , thyroiditis , medicine , malignant transformation , lesion , fibrosis , disease
Aims To describe two new cases of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid with exuberant nodular fasciitis‐like stroma, one of which was characterized by previously unreported transformation into a poorly differentiated lesion. Moreover, we explore the presence of TGF‐β to help to clarify the pathogenesis of the collagen formation. Methods and results The case characterized by an aggressive behaviour exhibited areas of transformation into a poorly differentiated (insular) carcinoma of the thyroid. In both cases, as revealed by immunohistochemistry, neoplastic cells produced and secreted high amounts of TGF‐β. On the contrary, TGF‐β immunoreaction was never present in the normal thyroid or in papillary carcinomas without collagen bundles, while a weak, exclusively intracellular reaction was present in a patchy manner in cases showing intratumoral fibrous bundles. Conclusions The rare variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma characterized by exuberant stroma may give rise to more aggressive lesions, as do other histotypes of differentiated thyroid carcinomas. TGF‐β, the fundamental cytokine which mediates scarring and activation of myofibroblasts, most probably induces the exuberant stroma.