H�rthle cell carcinoma: A malignancy of low-grade potential

Abstract

Background Hürthle cell carcinoma of the thyroid is a variant of follicular carcinoma, which has been considered by many as a more aggressive disease than the usual well‐differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid. Others, however, have found Hürthle cell carcinoma to be a low‐grade malignancy with little morbidity or mortality. Methods This is a retrospective report on all patients with Hürthle cell carcinoma diagnosed during the years 1951–1997 by the authors. The behavior of the disease and results of treatment were analyzed biostatistically and the outcome was compared with that of patients with pure follicular carcinoma treated during the same period. Results Forty‐two patients were diagnosed with Hürthle cell carcinoma and 153 with follicular carcinoma during this period (2.8% and 10.3% of all differentiated carcinomas of the thyroid, respectively). The rate of local recurrence and disease‐related mortality were both 9.5%, compared with 3.2% & 15.7%, respectively, for the follicular cancers. There was a trend for better outcome in patients younger than 55 years of age, in patients with tumors under 4 cm in size, and in patients treated by total thyroidectomy. Distant metastases occurred in four patients (9.5%) and were the cause of disease‐related mortality in three. Conclusions When treated assertively, Hürthle cell carcinoma of the thyroid, an oncocytic variant of follicular carcinoma, has a favorable outcome, similar to that of pure follicular carcinoma. Uniting those two entities in a future classification and reporting should be considered. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 21: 506–511, 1999.

Report of a Hürthle Cell Neoplasm in a Peripubertal Girl

“…Although extensive evaluation of the biologic behavior of Hü rthle cell neoplasms has been somewhat limited by their rarity, and published studies report conflicting data regarding the natural history of these tumors (7,(22)(23)(24), Hü rthle cell lesions are generally considered more aggressive than their papillary and follicular cell counterparts (4,(6)(7)(8). Both the prognostic factors in patients with Hü rthle cell neoplasms of the thyroid (8,10) and their surgical management (25) have recently been reviewed, and are beyond the scope of this report.…”

The Role of Radioactive Iodine in the Treatment of Hürthle Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid

“…HCTC is a subject of some debate in the literature, and its diagnosis (6), just as its treatment (2,(7)(8)(9) and prognosis (2,5,(9)(10)(11)(12), has been the subject of much controversy.…”

Metastatic Hurthle cell carcinoma in the abdomen masquerading as a primary ovarian tumor: a case report

“…It is considered by many as an aggressive disease in comparison to the usual well-differentiated forms of differentiated thyroid cancer with a prognosis worse than that of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid (4,5) . Others regard it as a malignancy of low-grade potential, describing it as a disease with a favorable outcome, similar to that of pure follicular carcinoma, finding it reasonable to classify follicular carcinoma and Hurthle cell carcinoma as one indistinguishable group (6) . Distant metastases are unusual at presentation but common with recurrent disease (7) .…”