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The Encapsulated Follicular Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Back to the Drawing Board

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Abstract

The encapsulated follicular variant of papillary carcinoma has become one of the most common diagnoses in thyroid tumor pathology. However, serious issues remain regarding the reproducibility of the diagnosis, its position in the scheme of thyroid neoplasms, and the clinical implications of the diagnosis. Strict morphologic criteria should be applied to its microscopic recognition, especially in regard to the nuclear features. The generally indolent behavior of this tumor should be recognized in order to avoid overtreatment.

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Correspondence to Juan Rosai.

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Presented under the title of “Papillae, nuclei and oncogenes: Back to the drawing board” at the Session “Recent advances in thyroid neoplasia,” at the Annual meeting of the Endocrine Pathology Society, held in Boston, MA, on March 7, 2009.

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Rosai, J. The Encapsulated Follicular Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Back to the Drawing Board. Endocr Pathol 21, 7–11 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-009-9103-1

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