multifocal thyroid papillary carcinoma

Definition: papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is frequently multifocal, which can represent either intraglandular spread from a single primary tumor or multiple synchronous primary tumors (MSPTs).

Images

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At least 30% of multifocal PTCs represent unequivocal MSPTs that develop through distinct molecular alterations and that as many as 60% of multifocal PTCs are likely MSPTs.

Histopathologically, MSPTs are typically located in different lobes, have distinct growth patterns, and do not show microscopic peritumoral dissemination.

See also

  thyroid tumors

• thyroid carcinomas
  • papillary thyroid carcinoma

References

 Molecular and Histopathologic Characteristics of Multifocal Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. Bansal M, Gandhi M, Ferris RL, Nikiforova MN, Yip L, Carty SE, Nikiforov YE. Am J Surg Pathol. 2013 Jun 20. PMID: 23797723