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Polyclonal and monoclonal thyroid nodules coexist within human multinodular goiters
P Kopp1, E T Kimura, S Aeschimann
1Department of Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Multinodular goiters can contain both polyclonal and monoclonal thyroid nodules. These nodules may arise from different cells, suggesting varied pathogenic mechanisms in goiter development.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Genetics
- Pathology
Background:
- The origin of thyroid nodules in multinodular goiters is not fully understood.
- Somatic mutations are found in some thyroid nodules, but their role in goiter pathogenesis is unclear.
- Thyroid nodules can originate from polyclonal or monoclonal cell populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clonality of multiple thyroid nodules within individual multinodular goiters.
- To determine if polyclonal and monoclonal nodules coexist within the same goiter.
- To explore the cellular origins of monoclonal nodules in multinodular goiters.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed clonality of 25 thyroid nodules from 9 multinodular goiters.
- Utilized the X-chromosomal probe M27 beta for clonal analysis in female patients.
- Assessed polymorphism at the DXS255 locus to distinguish polyclonal from monoclonal origins.
Main Results:
- Nine (36%) nodules were polyclonal, and 16 (64%) were monoclonal.
- Three goiters exclusively contained polyclonal nodules, and three exclusively contained monoclonal nodules.
- Polyclonal and monoclonal nodules coexisted in three goiters; monoclonal nodules originated from different progenitor cells in two of these.
Conclusions:
- Polyclonal and monoclonal thyroid nodules can coexist within multinodular goiters.
- Monoclonal nodules within the same goiter can arise from distinct progenitor cells.
- The coexistence suggests simultaneous pathogenic mechanisms or secondary emergence of monoclonal nodules from polyclonal populations due to genetic alterations.