COLUMNAR CELL-CARCINOMA OF THE THYROID-GLAND - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

A rare case of columnar cell carcinoma of the the thyroid gland is rep orted. The tumor was characterized by a predominantly papillary prolif eration of tall columnar cells with marked nuclear stratification with associated focal areas showing solid or microfollicular growth, The n uclei of the tumor cells did not have the ground-glass appearance that characterizes papillary thyroid carcinoma; rather their nuclear featu res resembled follicular carcinoma. The tumor was found in an advanced stage and the patient died of lung metastases 2.5 years after surgery . The unique histopathological features and highly aggressive nature o f columnar cell carcinoma require that this variant be differentiated from common papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. We also reviewed the l iterature emphasizing the lethal biological nature of this variant. Co pyright (C) 1994 by WB. Saunders Company