CONTEXT: Prophylactic thyroidectomies are increasingly performed on patients at risk for developing medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC); consequently, pathologists are more commonly encountering these specimens in routine practice. OBJECTIVE: To describe the detailed clinicopathologic features of prophylactic thyroidectomies for medullary carcinoma. DESIGN: We present a retrospective series of 42 prophylactic thyroidectomies for MTC performed for one or more of the following: family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) or MTC, elevated serum calcitonin level, or detection of a RET proto-oncogene mutation. RESULTS: Patients included 22 men and 20 women (mean age, 26.2 years). Among those with known RET proto-oncogene mutations, affected sites included exons 10, 11, 14, and 16. In 93% (n = 39) of cases, either C-cell hyperplasia (n = 36), medullary microcarcinoma (MMC; n = 29), or medullary macrocarcinoma (n = 1) was found. C-cell hyperplasia was often multifocal (n = 30) and bilateral (n = 23) and included both nonnodular and nodular patterns. A total of 94% of C-cell hyperplasia cases and all MMC cases were microscopically detectable using hematoxylin-eosin stains. The MMCs were characterized by a complex microarchitectural pattern with a desmoplastic stromal response (n = 29) and focal amyloid deposition (n = 12). Most MMCs exhibited a solid pattern (n = 24) of round, polygonal, spindled, or plasmacytoid-shaped cells. Only 1 case of MMC showed evidence of metastatic disease to a pretracheal lymph node. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon our clinicopathologic findings and review of the literature, we conclude that thyroidectomies in at-risk patients are very frequently associated with C-cell hyperplasia and/or MMC; however, the clinical prognosis for these patients is very good.
CONTEXT: Prophylactic thyroidectomies are increasingly performed on patients at risk for developing medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC); consequently, pathologists are more commonly encountering these specimens in routine practice. OBJECTIVE: To describe the detailed clinicopathologic features of prophylactic thyroidectomies for medullary carcinoma. DESIGN: We present a retrospective series of 42 prophylactic thyroidectomies for MTC performed for one or more of the following: family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) or MTC, elevated serum calcitonin level, or detection of a RET proto-oncogene mutation. RESULTS:Patients included 22 men and 20 women (mean age, 26.2 years). Among those with known RET proto-oncogene mutations, affected sites included exons 10, 11, 14, and 16. In 93% (n = 39) of cases, either C-cell hyperplasia (n = 36), medullary microcarcinoma (MMC; n = 29), or medullary macrocarcinoma (n = 1) was found. C-cell hyperplasia was often multifocal (n = 30) and bilateral (n = 23) and included both nonnodular and nodular patterns. A total of 94% of C-cell hyperplasia cases and all MMC cases were microscopically detectable using hematoxylin-eosin stains. The MMCs were characterized by a complex microarchitectural pattern with a desmoplastic stromal response (n = 29) and focal amyloid deposition (n = 12). Most MMCs exhibited a solid pattern (n = 24) of round, polygonal, spindled, or plasmacytoid-shaped cells. Only 1 case of MMC showed evidence of metastatic disease to a pretracheal lymph node. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon our clinicopathologic findings and review of the literature, we conclude that thyroidectomies in at-risk patients are very frequently associated with C-cell hyperplasia and/or MMC; however, the clinical prognosis for these patients is very good.
Authors: Thereasa A Rich; Lei Feng; Naifa Busaidy; Gilbert J Cote; Robert F Gagel; Mimi Hu; Camilo Jimenez; Jeffrey E Lee; Nancy Perrier; Steven I Sherman; Steven G Waguespack; Anita Ying; Elizabeth Grubbs Journal: Thyroid Date: 2014-06-06 Impact factor: 6.568