Follicular variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid - A cytologic study of 15 cases

OBJECTIVE: To study the cytological findings of follicular variant of papil lary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) and to compare them with the cytologic findi ngs on other thyroid lesions. STUDY DESIGN: The study group consisted of aspirate smears from 15 cases of histologically proven FVPTC. The control group consisted of 152 cases, inc luding adenomatous colloid goiter (70), usual papillary carcinoma (40), fol licular adenoma (30), Hurthle cell neoplasm (7) and medullary carcinoma (5) . RESULTS: The smears of FVPTC revealed numerous colloid balls in the backgro und, multilayered microfollicles (rosettes), numerous nuclear grooves and i nclusions in the monolayer sheets of follicular cells, very rare giant cell s, absence of calcification and papillary clusters. Rosettelike microfollic les and numerous colloid balls were not seen in the control group. CONCLUSION: The combination of numerous colloid balls and rosettelike micro follicles was frequently seen in FVPTC. This combination was not observed i n the control group.