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Original article
High molecular weight caldesmon positive stromal cells in the capsule of thyroid follicular tumours and tumour-like lesions
  1. H Nakayama1,
  2. H Enzan1,
  3. E Miyazaki1,
  4. T Moriki2,
  5. H Kiyoku3,
  6. M Toi1,
  7. N Kuroda1,
  8. M Hiroi1
  1. 1First Department of Pathology, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku-city, Kochi 783–8505, Japan
  2. 2Pathology Section, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kochi Medical School Hospital, Nankoku-city, Kochi 783–8505, Japan
  3. 3Department of Pathology, Tokushima Municipal Hospital, Tokushima 770–0812, Japan
  1. 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

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
  • ASMA, α smooth muscle actin
  • HCD, high molecular weight caldesmon

https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.55.12.917

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