Abstract
The histopathological studies of calcification was made on 192 thyroid glands removed surgically during past 3 years (1963-1965).
Calcifications were found in 54 cases: 11 (10.7%) of 103 adenomatous goiter, 4 (20%) of 20 follicular adenomas, 1 (7.7%) of 13 cystadenomas, 23 (95.7%) of 24 papillary adenocarcinomas, 9 (64.4%) of 14 follicular adenocarcinomas and 6 (100%) of 6mixed carcinomas.
Calcifications were classified in four types according to histopathological findings;
1) board type was found more common in fibrous stroma of non-neoplastic goiters,
2) pin point type was found in stroma of a few papillary adenocarcinomas,
3) granular type was observed in stroma or intrafollicular position of some papillary adenocarcinomas and follicular adenocarcinomas,
4) psammoma type (psammoma body) was frequently presented in stroma or intrafolliculary of papillary adenocarcinoma and a few non-neoplastic goiters.
Psammoma body was differentiated from board type on histopathological findings, contained acid mucopolysaccharide, iron and other substances binds calcium. Psammoma body was frequently presented in fibrous stroma but also seen occasionally associated with tumor cells in the colloid lackes and basophilic colloid sometimes simulated psammoma body. These findings should suggest that psammoma body have relation to degenerated colloides and tumor cells.
