Solid cell nests of the thyroid gland

Abstract

The histogenesis and clinical significance of solid cell nests (SCN) of the thyroid are not fully understood. From August 1987 to December 1989 a total of 2544 patients with thyroid and parathyroid diseases underwent surgery at Ito Hospital, and SCN were revealed within the thyroid parenchyma in 21 (0.8%). Distribution of SCN was not limited to the upper one-third of the lateral lobe, and SCN were found even in the isthmus lobe. In 5 cases microcysts were also noted within SCN, and their content was thought to be acidic proteoglycan. Immunohistochemical study revealed that SCN were negative for thyroglobulin and calcitonin but positive for carcinoembryonic antigen. Thirteen of 21 cases showed positive immunostaining with cytokeratin. Scattered calcitonin-positive cells were noted around the SCN. It is suggested from these findings that SCN of the thyroid are closely related to certain cells of ultimobranchial body vestiges which may be not of neuroectodermal origin but of endodermal origin.

The expression of sialylated molecules in parafollicular-cell hyperplasia of the canine thyroid gland

“…LiVolsi (1990) presented the frequency of SCN incidence within healthy human thyroid glands as being 14 to 28% (including a lymphocytic lining). Ozaki et al (1991) revealed similar findings. Beckner et al (1990) did not recommend using the term SCN because up to 55% of newborn cases contained cystic structures, and supposed the epithet ultimobranchial body (UBB) remnants.…”

“…Solid cell nests might be also held as a common phenomenon, sex-independent as well; the picture was identical in both humans and dogs (Vollenweider and Hedinger, 1988;LiVolsi, 1990;Beckner et al, 1990;Leblanc et al, 1990;Ozaki et al, 1991). On the contrary to findings in humans, the incidence frequency was found lower in our study.…”

Immunomorphological Study of Ultimobranchial Body Remnants in the Thyroid Gland of Buffalo (Bos Bubalis)

“…The ultimobranchial C-cell complexes in human thyroid are irregular structures of about 1 mm in diameter, usually found in the middle third of the thyroid lateral lobes (Harach, 1985). These structures are closely related to certain cells of UBB vestiges which may be not of neuroectodermal origin but of endodermal origin (Ozaki et al, 1991). In mammalian species, including the buffalo (present study), the C-cells were partially or completely disseminated among the follicles of the thyroid gland; but they occasionally formed fairly large cellular clusters around or near the parathyroid IV (Kameda, 1977(Kameda, , 1982(Kameda, , 1995Kameda and Ikeda, 1980), which were regarded as the remnant of the embryonic UBB (present study).…”

Solid Cell Nests in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Sharing Features with Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma

“…Previous studies have described the histological and immunohistochemical features of SCN [2,3,6,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Four different types of SCN have been reported [2,7]: (1) SCN type 1 are mainly composed of small round or oval groups of elongated or even spindle shaped cells with centrally located, oval to fusiform nuclei with uneven nuclear envelope showing occasional grooves, and scanty eosinophilic cytoplasm which are called "main cells" (floret-like features), surrounded by collection of lymphocytes; (2) SCN type 2 have large polygonal cells with abundant cytoplasm and distinct cell boundaries (epidermoid-like features); (3) SCN type 3 are characterized by cystic structure lined by flattened or large polygonal cells; and (4) SCN type 4 are composed of structures lined by main cells and follicular epithelium (so-called mixed follicles; Table 1).…”