Clinicopathological study of medullary carcinoma of thyroid: A single institute experience

Abstract

Context: Medullary thyroid carcinoma is one of the rare thyroid malignancies representing only about 5%–10%of total thyroid cancers. Aims: To study the age, sex distribution, and various histopathological features of medullary carcinoma of thyroid in our institute over a period of 5 years. Settings and Design: This is a retrospective descriptional study of the cases diagnosed as medullary carcinoma over a period of 5 years in our institute (i.e., from April 01, 2010, to March 31, 2015). Subjects and Methods: The study material obtained from departmental records, gross specimens, paraffin blocks or slides and case files from medical record sections. Histopathologically, tumor was identified according to the classical features as described in the World Health Organization of classification of tumors of endocrine organs. Results: We found 20 cases of medullary carcinoma which accounted for 12% of thyroid malignancies. There was female dominance, and the age group of patients ranged from 20 years to 66 years. Microscopically, tumor cell arrangement was classic in all the cases with some showing pseudopapillary and spindle cell areas. Apoptosis of the tumor cells were seen notably in three cases. Three cases had necrotic areas. One case of micro medullary carcinoma was found incidentally. We had one interesting case where the clinical and cytological features were more in favor of papillary carcinoma. Conclusions: Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid is rare. Identifying the histopathological features and its variations may show light into understanding of the tumor biology with its implications on patient management and prognosis.