Columnar-cell carcinoma of the thyroid

A case of columnar-cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland occurring in a 77-ye ar-old female is described. Tracheal deviation and calcified anterior neck lesion were showed in X-ray examination. A computed tomography (CT) scan re vealed a soft tissue density mass with calcification of the right thyroid l obe and isthmus. A Tc-99m scintiscan showed a 'cold' nodule, whereas a Tl-2 01 scintiscan showed a 'hot' in the right thyroid lobe and isthmus. Subtota l thyroidectomy and dissection of paratracheal adipose tissue were performe d after fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA) of the thyroid mass had been done. On the FNA smears, there were many papillary fragments, which contain ed pseudostratified columnar cells. Histopathologically, the tumor had thre e different types of neoplasm including papillary carcinoma of usual featur e, columnar-cell carcinoma and follicular carcinoma. Transitional changes w ere observed between columnar-cell carcinoma and follicular carcinoma. The patient has been followed up for 3 years, with no evidence of recurrence or metastasis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.