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Plasma cell granuloma of the thyroid
Fernando Martinez1, Ewa Filipowicz, S David Hudnall
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0741, USA.
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
|April 18, 2002
Summary
Plasma cell granuloma of the thyroid is a rare condition, with only six cases previously reported. This study details a case in a 46-year-old woman, highlighting its excellent prognosis after surgical treatment.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pathology
- Oncology
Background:
- Plasma cell granuloma of the thyroid is an exceptionally rare thyroid lesion.
- Previous reports indicate a predilection for postmenopausal women.
Observation:
- A 46-year-old woman with a 20-year history of euthyroid goiter and a family history of thyroid disease presented with a thyroid lesion.
- Histological examination revealed sheets of plasma cells throughout the thyroid parenchyma, mimicking plasmacytoma.
- Immunohistochemical staining confirmed polyclonal kappa/lambda light chains, and polymerase chain reaction excluded immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene rearrangement, ruling out plasmacytoma.
Findings:
- The case presented is the seventh reported instance of thyroid plasma cell granuloma.
- The patient's diffuse thyroid involvement was associated with a family history of thyroid disease.
- The lesion was definitively diagnosed as plasma cell granuloma, not plasmacytoma.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of plasma cell granuloma of the thyroid, including its occurrence in a younger demographic and association with familial thyroid disease.
- The findings reinforce the excellent prognosis and lack of malignant transformation or recurrence following surgical management.
- Further research may elucidate the specific factors contributing to the development of this rare entity.