Oxyphil cells in thyroid disease: a uniform change?
Neoplastic and non-neoplastic oxyphil cells in thyroid disorders were investigated for enzyme and synthetic activity, ultrastructural features, and immune complex deposition. A reduced but definite content of thyroglobuliin and similar enzyme profiles and ultrastructural features in all types of oxyphill change were found. Immune complex deposition was seen in Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis but not in oxyphil neoplasms or colloid goitre with focal oxyphil change. The findings suggest that oxyphil cells do represent a uniform change. Immunological damage with immune complex deposition might be the cause of oxyphil change in only some conditions.
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
