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Related Concept Videos

The Thyroid Gland01:23

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The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck and covers the anterior surface of the trachea. The gland has two lateral lobes connected by a thin tissue mass called the isthmus. Internally, each lobe comprises many small spherical structures known as thyroid follicles, surrounded by a network of blood vessels.
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Low blood levels of the thyroid hormones — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — signal the hypothalamus to release the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH then reaches the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) into the bloodstream.
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A hair follicle or HF is a small part of the skin that produces the hair shaft. Paul Gerson Unna was the first to observe a bulge in the human hair follicle's outer root sheath (ORS). The bulge is present between the sebaceous gland and the arrector pili muscle and is the niche for hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). The bulge is also a niche for melanocyte stem cells, and their loss results in graying of hair. The HFSCs express Sox9 and Lhx2, which help them maintain stemness and prevent...
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Folliculogenesis is the development of ovarian follicles, the specialized structures within the ovarian cortex where oogenesis, or egg development, occurs. This process is essential for female reproductive health and begins during fetal development when primordial follicles are formed. Each primordial follicle comprises a primary oocyte in the center, surrounded by a single layer of squamous pre-granulosa cells. These follicles remain dormant in late prophase I of meiosis until triggered by...
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The two pairs of parathyroid glands embedded within the posterior surface of the thyroid gland are restricted by a dense capsule around them. These glands comprise two distinct cell populations—parathyroid oxyphil and parathyroid principal cells- pivotal in calcium homeostasis.
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The thyroid hormone (TH) plays a pivotal role in the intricate orchestration of physiological processes, exerting profound effects on development, metabolism, and homeostasis throughout different life stages.
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An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development
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Defining thyroid spherules: A benign cytomorphologic feature that mimics microfollicles.

Danielle C Costigan1, Mohanad Shaar1, Mary C Frates2

  • 1Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Cancer Cytopathology
|December 20, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) spherules, characterized by evenly spaced cells, are associated with benign outcomes. Identifying these distinctive structures in atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) cases can prevent unnecessary procedures.

Keywords:
atypia of undetermined significancecytologyfine-needle aspirationspherulethyroid nodule

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Area of Science:

  • Cytopathology
  • Endocrinology
  • Surgical Pathology

Background:

  • Spherules are distinctive rounded structures in thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples.
  • Unlike microfollicles, spherules exhibit orderly cellular arrangement, suggesting a benign nature.
  • The clinical significance and histopathologic correlation of spherules require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the clinical significance of thyroid FNA spherules.
  • To establish the histopathologic correlate of thyroid FNA spherules.
  • To assess the association between spherules and malignancy risk.

Main Methods:

  • Reviewed 637 thyroid FNAs interpreted as atypia of undetermined significance (AUS).
  • Defined spherules as small, rounded follicles with evenly spaced nuclei and a 3D appearance.
  • Collected clinical, histopathologic, molecular, and sonographic follow-up data for cases with >50% spherules.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-five cases (3.9% of AUS) showed predominantly spherules.
  • All 24 cases with follow-up demonstrated a benign outcome.
  • Gene expression classifier and surgical pathology confirmed benignity in tested cases.

Conclusions:

  • Thyroid nodules with AUS predominantly composed of spherules have a benign outcome.
  • Recognizing spherules can decrease AUS interpretations and avoid unnecessary patient interventions.
  • Spherules represent a benign cytomorphologic finding in thyroid FNAs.