Skip to main content
Log in

Warthin tumor-like variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: A case with dedifferentiation (anaplastic changes) and aggressive biological behavior

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Endocrine Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Warthin tumor-like variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma is uncommon and approx 80 cases have been reported in the literature. This tumor is often associated with a favorable prognosis. In this report, a Warthin tumor-like variant of the papillary thyroid carcinoma, 5-cm in maximum dimension, underwent anaplastic changes in a 74-yr-old woman. The tumor was positive for CD15 and EMA, and a high proliferative index was noted in the anaplastic area. The patient developed distant metastases after operation and died of the disease 18 mo after the operation. The present case is the first reported case of Warthin tumor-like variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma with anaplastic changes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lorentz TG, Lau PW, Lo CY, Law WL, Wan KY, Lauder IJ. Multivariate analysis of risk factors influencing survival in 110 ethnic Chinese with papillary thyroid cancer. World J Surg 18:547–550, 1994.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Chan JK. Papillary carcinoma of thyroid: classical and variants. Histol Histopathol 5:241–257, 1990.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Apel RL, Asa SL, LiVolsi VA. Papillary Hurthle cell carcinoma with lymphocytic stroma. “Warthin-like tumor” of the thyroid. Am J Surg Pathol 19:810–814, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Yousef O, Dichard A, Bocklage T. Aspiration cytology features of the warthin tumor-like variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. A report of two cases. Acta Cytol 41:1361–1368, 1997.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Vasei M, Kumar PV, Malekhoseini SA, Kadivar M. Papillary Hurthle cell carcinoma (Warthin-like tumor) of the thyroid. Report of a case with fine needle aspiration findings. Acta Cytol 42:1437–1440, 1998.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fadda G, Mule A, Zannoni GF, Vincenzoni C, Ardito G, Capelli A. Fine needle aspiration of a warthin-like thyroid tumor. Report of a case with differential diagnostic criteria vs. other lymphocyte-rich thyroid lesions. Acta Cytol 42:998–1002, 1998.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Baloch ZW, LiVolsi VA. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of papillary Hurthle cell carcinoma with lymphocytic stroma “Warthin-like tumor” of the thyroid. Endocr Pathol 9:317–323, 1998.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Vera-Sempere FJ, Prieto M, Camanas A. Warthin-like tumor of the thyroid: a papillary carcinoma with mitochondrion-rich cells and abundant lymphoid stroma: a case report. Pathol Res Pract 194:341–347, 1998.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Baloch ZW, LiVolsi VA. Warthin-like papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Arch Pathol Lab Med 124:1192–1195, 2000.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. D’Antonio A, De Chiara A, Santoro M, Chiappetta G, Losito NS. Warthin-like tumour of the thyroid gland: RET/PTC expression indicates it is a variant of papillary carcinoma. Histopathology 36:493–498, 2000.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Urano M, Abe M, Kuroda M, et al. Warthin-like tumor variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: case report and literature review. Pathol Int 51:707–712, 2001.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ludvikova M, Ryska A, Korabecna M, Rydlova M, Michal M. Oncocytic papillary carcinoma with lymphoid stroma (Warthin-like tumour) of the thyroid: a distinct entity with favourable prognosis. Histopathology 39:17–24, 2001.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Korabecna M, Ludvikova M, Skalova A. Molecular diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus in paraffin-embedded tissues of tumors with abundant lymphoid infiltration. Neoplasma 50:8–12, 2003.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Anwar F. The phenotype of Hurthle and Warthin-like papillary thyroid carcinomas is distinct from classic papillary carcinoma as to the expression of retinoblastoma protein and E2F-1 transcription factor. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 11:20–27, 2003.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Trovisco V, Vieira de Castro I, Soares P, et al. BRAF mutations are associated with some histological types of papillary thyroid carcinoma. J Pathol 202:247–251, 2004.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Mai KT, Thomas J, Yazdi HM, Commons AS, Lamba M, Stinson AW. Pathologic study and clinical significance of Hurthle cell papillary thyroid carcinoma. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 12:329–337, 2004.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Schroder S, Schwarz W, Rephpenning W, Loning T, Bocker W. Prognostic significance of Leu-M1 immunostaining in papillary carcinomas of the thyroid gland. Virchows Arch A 411:435–439, 1987.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ostrowski ML, Merino MJ. Tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a reassessment and immunohistochemical study with comparison to the usual type of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Am J Surg Pathol 20:964–974, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ozaki O, Ito K, Mimura T, Sugino K, Hosoda Y. Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Tall-cell variant with extensive lymphocyte infiltration. Am J Surg Pathol 20:695–698, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Ruter A, Nishiyama R, Lennquist S. Tall-cell variant of papillary thyroid cancer: disregarded entity? World J Surg 21:15–20, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to King Yin Lam.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lam, K.Y., Lo, C.Y. & Wei, W.I. Warthin tumor-like variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: A case with dedifferentiation (anaplastic changes) and aggressive biological behavior. Endocr Pathol 16, 83–89 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1385/EP:16:1:083

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/EP:16:1:083

Key Words

Navigation