[Anatomo-pathology and histological prognosis of follicular thyroid carcinoma]

After reviewing the classification and main histopathological features of differentiated follicular thyroid carcinoma, characters influencing their prognosis are analysed in light of publications from the last ten years. In all cases distant metastasis, extrathyroid invasion and age are the most significant features; histology, limitation and differentiation are then involved. Lymph node metastasis play a role mainly in the evolution of follicular carcinoma. The diagnosis of malignancy suspected on fine needle aspiration cytology must be confirmed on frozen sections at time of surgery; in the main time extension and histological type can be determined and help to choose the appropriate surgical procedure. The study of biological parameters such as ploidy, DNA content, cellular proliferation or expression of oncogens brings no better information than clinicopathological parameters and has presently no practical interest for the choice of treatment.