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Oncocytes, oxyphils, Hürthle, and Askanazy cells: morphological and molecular features of oncocytic thyroid nodules

Ozgur Mete1, Sylvia L Asa

  • 1Department of Pathology, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, 11th floor, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada. ozgurmete77@gmail.com

Endocrine Pathology
|December 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Oncocytic changes in thyroid nodules are linked to mitochondrial DNA mutations, separate from cancer-driving genetic events. Diagnosis relies on standard criteria for thyroid lesions, not oncocytic cell presence.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Oncocytic change in thyroid nodules involves cells with abundant mitochondria.
  • Recent advances illuminate the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations and somatic mutations affecting mitochondrial function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the understanding of oncocytic change in thyroid nodules.
  • To assess the relationship between mitochondrial mutations and neoplastic transformation in thyroid follicular cells.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on mitochondrial genetics and thyroid nodule pathology.
  • Analysis of diagnostic criteria for oncocytic lesions versus non-oncocytic follicular lesions.

Main Results:

  • Mitochondrial DNA mutations and functional changes in oncocytic cells are largely independent of genetic events driving thyroid cancer proliferation.
  • Diagnostic criteria for oncocytic thyroid lesions remain consistent with those for non-oncocytic lesions.

Conclusions:

  • Oncocytic change in thyroid nodules is primarily associated with mitochondrial alterations, not neoplastic transformation drivers.
  • Standard diagnostic approaches using nuclear morphology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular markers are effective for classifying oncocytic thyroid lesions, including follicular variant papillary carcinomas.

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