Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
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Visual summary · Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Papillary Microcarcinoma of Thyroid in Resected Benign Multinodular Goiters Shows Correlation with Weight of the Specimen

Shamsul Hadi, Mohammad M. Khan, Mehwish Waris, Quaratul Ain, Hafiza M. Shahzadi, Nasuhi E. Aydin, Gyan P. Bajgai, Mahid Iqbal

The question

What is the prevalence of papillary microcarcinoma of thyroid (PMCT) in benign multinodular goiter in thyroidectomy specimens?

  • Papillary microcarcinoma of thyroid (PMCT) is defined by WHO as a small area of malignant transformation measuring up to 1 cm or less.
  • Thyroid cancer in Pakistan is accountable for 1.2% cases of all cancers.

What was done

32thyroidectomy specimens selected
38.63years mean patient age (SD ±12.95)
72total/subtotal thyroidectomy specimens received
  • This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Histopathology Laboratory of Peshawar Medical College, Pakistan.
  • Out of 72 total/subtotal thyroidectomy specimens received between June 2018 and May 2019, 32 specimens with suspicious foci for malignancy were selected.
  • The specimens were closely examined for suspicious foci both grossly and microscopically.

Key findings

Finding 1 of 4
6.25%
prevalence of PMCT (2 cases)

The study reported two cases of PMCT, showing a prevalence of 6.25% in multinodular goiter specimens.

Histopathological diagnosis breakdown
  • Multinodular goiter (MNG)87.5%
  • Papillary microcarcinoma (PMCT)6.2%
  • Papillary carcinoma (PTC)3.1%
  • Follicular adenoma (FA)3.1%
Finding 2 of 4
3.12%
prevalence of PTC (1 case)

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) was diagnosed in 1 case, representing 3.12% of the specimens.

Finding 3 of 4
206.31 g
mean specimen weight (±304.50 g)

The mean weight of specimens was 206.31±304.50 grams, which was due to outliers in the weight category.

Finding 4 of 4
Smaller
nodules contained PMCT cases

Both cases of PMCT were found in smaller multinodular goiter specimens.

Why it matters

  • In thyroid excisions, the weight of the excised specimen holds great importance in determination and diagnosis of the disease.
  • The occurrence of both PMCTs in total thyroidectomy specimens cautions for prudent assessment at gross and histopathological levels.

How to cite

Shamsul Hadi, Mohammad M. Khan, Mehwish Waris, Quaratul Ain, Hafiza M. Shahzadi, Nasuhi E. Aydin, et al. Papillary Microcarcinoma of Thyroid in Resected Benign Multinodular Goiters Shows Correlation with Weight of the Specimen. Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. 2021;3(1):10-16. https://doi.org/10.17140/plmoj-3-110

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