Comparison of Sonographic and Histopathologic Findings of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma According to Galectin-3 immuno-staining in Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology Specimens.

Kim,  Jeong Ah; Son,  Eun Ju

Journal of Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine 2013;32(2): 128-131.

Jeong Ah Kim, Eun Ju Son

Department of Radiology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea. chrismd@hanmail.net

Published online: June 30, 2013.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the sonographic (US) and histopathologic findings of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) according to Galectin-3 (G3) immuno-staining positivity from fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: US-FNA and G3 immuno-staining were performed in 343 patients. Among them, 60 patients diagnosed with PTC by surgery were included in this study. Retrospective analysis of the clinical and US findings of PTCs (size, orientation, margin, composition, echogenicity, vascularity, and parenchymal echogenicity) was performed and postsurgical pathologic findings (extrathyroidal extension (ETE), multifocality, and lymph node metastasis) were analyzed. We analyzed the correlation of US and pathologic findings according to G3 positivity from FNA specimens. RESULTS: Twenty six patients (43%) were G3 negative and 34 patients (57%) were G3 positive. No significant differences in US findings and pathologic findings of size, multifocality, and ETE were observed between G3 positive and negative groups (p>0.05). However, the G3 positive group had a significantly higher rate of lymph node metastasis than the G3 negative group (p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: US findings did not differ between G3 positive and negative PTCs from FNAB specimens, however, the G3 positive group had more frequent lymph node metastasis.

Keywords: Ultrasound; Galectin-3; Papillary thyroid carcinoma