1999 Volume 38 Issue 6 Pages 563-569
Background: Warthin-like tumor of the thyroid (WLTT) is a newly recognized variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. We report a case of WLTT with fine needle aspiration findings as well as histological and immunohistochemical findings.
Case: A 52-year-old female presented with a right lobe thyroid mass. Fine needle aspiration of the nodule yielded cellular smears, mostly in large and small clusters of eosinophilic cells, with ground-glass nuclei, nuclear grooves, and intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in a lymphoplasmacytic background. Various sized multinucleated giant cells were also seen. Histologically, the main tumor consisted of papillary structures of eosinophilic tall cells with extensive lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. Nuclear features were similar to those seen in conventional papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. The background thyroid tissue showed Hashimoto's thyroiditis with hyperplastic nodules. Minute papillary carcinoma with psammoma bodies was also detected. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for EMA, cytokeratins such as CK 8, CK 19, and AE 1/AE 3, CD 15, and mitochondria.
Conclusion: The cytological hallmarks of WLTT were cellular smears composed predominantly of eosinophilic cells in papillary clusters in a background of lymphoplasma cells and giant cells as well as nuclear features of conventional papillary carcinoma.
