Fine-needle aspiration cytology of papillary hürthle cell carcinoma with lymphocytic stroma “warthin-like tumor” of the thyroid

Abstract  Papillary H�rthle cell carcinoma with lymphocytic stroma is a recent addition to the list of variants of papillary carcinoma
of the thyroid. We report the aspiration cytology and histology findings of this tumor arising in two patients. The smears
were cellular, and revealed H�rthle cells arranged in three-dimensional groups, papillary fragments, and as singly dispersed
cells with a prominent intimately associated inflammatory component of lymphocytes and few plasma cells. The H�rthle cells
were pleomorphic and showed granular eosinophilic cytoplasm, eccentrically oriented nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Nuclear
features of papillary carcinoma were present among both the cellular groups and scattered cells. The histologic examination
showed a circumscribed papillary tumor comprising H�rthle cells and a brisk inflammatory component filling the stalks of papillae.
These findings were consistent with a papillary H�rthle cells carcinoma with lymphocytic stroma, the so-called Warthin-like
tumor of the thyroid. H�rthle cells admixed with inflammatory cells in cytology preparations can be seen in H�rthle cell nodules
or neoplasms arising in a background of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. We suggest that a careful search for nuclear features
may be helpful in diagnosing this variant of papillary carcinoma.

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Clinical ResearchDOI 10.1007/BF02739691Authors
Zubair W. Baloch, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 3400 Spruce Street, 6 Founders 19104 Philadelphia PAVirginia A. LiVolsi, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 3400 Spruce Street, 6 Founders 19104 Philadelphia PA

Journal Endocrine PathologyOnline ISSN 1559-0097Print ISSN 1046-3976

Journal Volume Volume 9

Journal Issue Volume 9, Number 4 / December, 1998 (Source: Endocrine Pathology)