FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY OF ANAPLASTIC CARCINOMA WITH OSTEOCLAST-LIKE GIANT-CELLS OF THE THYROID - A CASE-REPORT

BACKGROUND: Multinucleated giant cells of osteoclastlike appearance ar e seen in some anaplastic carcinomas, but only three cases in which th e diagnosis was made by aspiration cytology are reported in the intern ational medical literature. CASE: A 66-year-old female presented with a history of a palpable neck mass. The diagnosis of fine needle aspira tion cytology was anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with osteoclastlike gia nt cells. Immunohistochemical staining and DNA ploidy analysis were do ne. CONCLUSION: Osteoclastlike giant cells have an origin different fr om that of the anaplastic component. DNA aneuploidy was noted in our c ase.