Tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma with foci of columnar cell component

We report a case of the tall call variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma wi th foci of columnar cell component in a 67-year-old Japanese man. Tall cell variant occupied more than 70% of the tumour, and columnar cell component was of two types in representative sections. One showed striking stratifica tion of nuclei with scanty cytoplasm, and the other appeared clear. Charact eristic nuclear features of papillary carcinoma were also observed in the a rea of the tall cell variant. The patient died of the thyroid cancer with a spiration pneumonia 10 years and 6 months after operation. Although autopsy was not performed, metastatic lymph nodes of the neck removed during lift: also showed papillary carcinoma with both tall cell and columnar cell comp onents. Our case indicates that tall cell and columnar cell variants may co exist in the same tumour although the pathogenesis remains unclear.