Pj. Yunta et al., The importance of a tumor capsule in columnar cell thyroid carcinoma: A report of two cases and review of the literature, THYROID, 9(8), 1999, pp. 815-819
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.