The importance of a tumor capsule in columnar cell thyroid carcinoma: A report of two cases and review of the literature

Two cases of papillary columnar cell thyroid carcinoma are presented. A 49- year-old man presented with lymph node and pulmonary metastases at diagnosi s; a 51-year-old woman developed local recurrence and lung and bone metasta ses 3 years postsurgery. Death occurred after 52 and 57 months, respectivel y. The first case lacked a tumor capsule, although the second exhibited cap sule remains with extensive tumor tell infiltration. A review is made of al l similar cases reported to date in the literature, placing emphasis on the epidemiological and prognostic differences observed in terms of circumscri bed or noncircumscribed tumor. The presence of a capsule was associated wit h a higher frequency of female patients and a favorable prognosis. In contr ast, tumors profusely infiltrating the thyroid parenchyma or extrathyroid t issues in the absence of a capsule, found in similar proportion of men and women had a fatal prognosis.