Primary mucin-producing adenosquamous carcinoma of the thyroid gland

A rare case of mucin-producing adenosquamous carcinoma of the thyroid gland is reported in a 57-year-old woman. Light microscopically, much of the tumor showed a feature of mucin-producing adenosquamous carcinoma; squamous cells and mucous signet ring cells. In the lower portion of the tumor, a calcified area containing small foci of follicular carcinoma and its squamous cell metaplasia was accompanied. Histochemically, neutral, non-sulphated and sulphated acid mucins were found in the mucous cells, and no thyroglobulin or calcitonin was detected in the tumor cells. Electron microscopically, some tonofibrils and mucin production were observed concomitantly in the tumor cells. These findings suggested the possibility that this mucin-producing adenosquamous carcinoma originated from squamous cell metaplasia of pre-existing follicular carcinoma.