Open AccessUNDIFFERENTIATED CARCINOMA OF THE THYROID GLAND WITH OSTEOCLAST‐LIKE GIANT CELLS
Author(s) -
Hashimoto Hiroshi,
Koga Sunao,
Watanabe Hidenobu,
Enjoji Munetomo
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
acta patholigica japonica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
ISSN - 0001-6632
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1827.1980.tb01327.x
Subject(s) - giant cell , histogenesis , pathology , histiocyte , thyroid , giant cell tumors , osteoclast , carcinoma , biology , medicine , immunohistochemistry , endocrinology , receptor
Three cases of undifferentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland with osteoclast‐like giant cells resembling those of giant‐cell tumor of bone are presented. The clinical and morphologic characteristics of these cases are described and the literature concerning these tumors is reviewed. The lesions occur in elderly people, grow rapidly and are fatal, as do the usual undifferentiated carcinomas of the thyroid gland. Nevertheless, the tumors differ histologically from the usual undifferentiated carcinoma of giant cell or spindle cell type in having the osteoclast‐like giant cells with many, small, uniform, benign appearing nuclei. All three tumors contained partial areas of moderately to well differentiated carcinoma; papillary carcinoma in two, and follicular carcinoma in one. Although the histogenesis of the osteoclast‐like multinucleated giant cells is not definitely established, it is proposed that the giant cells are reactive in nature and histiocytic in origin because of their benign appearance, phagocytic activity, high level of acid‐phosphatase activity, and some ultrastructural features and that they are formed by fusion of mononucleated histiocytes.