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Published on: April 17, 2013

FNA of thyroid granular cell tumor

Eric Harp1, Nancy P Caraway

  • 1Department of Pathology, College Station Medical Center, Bryan, Texas.

Diagnostic Cytopathology
|April 18, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This case report details a rare granular cell tumor in a thyroid nodule. Cytologic analysis revealed characteristic granular cells, aiding diagnosis through immunohistochemistry.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cytopathology
  • Surgical Pathology

Background:

  • Granular cell tumors (GCTs) are uncommon neoplasms, with rare occurrences reported in the thyroid gland.
  • Thyroid nodules are common, but GCTs present a diagnostic challenge due to their rarity and overlapping cytologic features with other thyroid lesions.

Observation:

  • A case report of a 27-year-old woman presenting with a gradually enlarging thyroid nodule.
  • Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology revealed a thyroid lesion with single and syncytial clusters of cells exhibiting abundant granular cytoplasm.

Findings:

  • The cytologic findings were suggestive of GCT, but differential diagnoses included Hurthle cell lesions and histiocytic reparative processes.
  • Immunohistochemical staining for S-100 protein and CD68 on a cell block preparation was crucial in confirming the diagnosis of granular cell tumor.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering rare entities like GCT in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
  • Accurate cytologic and immunohistochemical evaluation is essential for the correct diagnosis and management of granular cell tumors of the thyroid.
  • Understanding the cytologic features and diagnostic aids for GCT can improve diagnostic accuracy in thyroid FNA cytology.

Keywords:
cytologyfine-needle aspirationgranular cell tumorthyroid

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