Tamar A Giorgadze
Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, USA
Title: Papillary thyroid carcinoma and its variants: The cytolomorphologic features and histologic correlates
Biography
Biography: Tamar A Giorgadze
Abstract
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid malignancy. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) remains the cost-effective first line diagnostic modality in the evaluation of thyroid lesions. This practical presentation will focus on FNA cytomorphological of PTC variants, with the emphasis on its aggressive subtypes. The subtle cytomorphological differences between the common and aggressive variants of PTC seen in the conventional and liquid-based preparations (LBP) will be analyzed. A case-based approach will be used to discuss the pre-operative diagnosis of more aggressive PTC variants (tall cell, columnar cell, diffuse sclerosing, clear cell, and hobnail). Corresponding ultrasound images, gross and microscopic characteristics of follow-up surgical pathology specimens will be reviewed and correlated. The utility of ancillary studies (immunostains and molecular markers) which facilitate the diagnosis and help to differentiate variants of PTC from other primary thyroid tumors or metastatic malignancies will be addressed. Importance of recognition of aggressive variants of PTC in FNA specimens for the completeness of preoperative planning (total thyroidectomy, possible cervical lymph node dissection, and search for distance metastases) will be demonstrated. By the end of this presentation the participants will be able to recognize the differential cytomorphological criteria of PTC and its variants in the conventional and LBP preparations and effectively integrate clinical data, sonographic features and ancillary tests in the preoperative workup of these lesions.