High molecular weight caldesmon positive stromal cells in the capsule of thyroid follicular tumours and tumour-like lesions
- 1First Department of Pathology, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku-city, Kochi 783–8505, Japan
- 2Pathology Section, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kochi Medical School Hospital, Nankoku-city, Kochi 783–8505, Japan
- 3Department of Pathology, Tokushima Municipal Hospital, Tokushima 770–0812, Japan
- Correspondence to: Dr H Nakayama, Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1–2–3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734–8551, Japan; nakayamh{at}hiroshima-u.ac.jp
- Accepted 17 July 2002
Abstract
Aims: To investigate the smooth muscle nature of the spindle stromal cells in the capsule of thyroid tumours and tumour-like lesions.
Methods: Immunostaining for high molecular weight caldesmon (HCD), a highly specific marker for smooth muscle differentiation, was performed in 70 primary thyroid tumours and tumour-like lesions (21 hyperplastic nodules, 29 follicular adenomas, five minimally invasive follicular carcinomas, six widely invasive follicular carcinomas, and nine encapsulated papillary carcinomas).
Results: HCD positive stromal cells (HCD+ cells) were detected in the capsule of 20 of the 21 hyperplastic nodules, and all of the 29 follicular adenomas and five minimally invasive follicular carcinomas, whereas HCD+ cells were seen in the capsule of only four of the six widely invasive follicular carcinomas and no HCD+ cells were seen in the capsule of the nine encapsulated papillary carcinomas examined.
Conclusions: The presence of HCD+ cells in the capsule is characteristic of thyroid follicular tumours and tumour-like lesions. The stromal cells in the capsule of thyroid follicular tumours and tumour-like lesions are different from those of encapsulated papillary carcinoma.
- thyroid
- capsule
- high molecular weight caldesmon
- smooth muscle cell
- follicular tumour and tumour-like lesion
