-
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2021Hürthle cell lesions have been a diagnostic conundrum in pathology since they were first recognized over a century ago. Controversy as to the name of the cell, the... (Review)
Review
Hürthle cell lesions have been a diagnostic conundrum in pathology since they were first recognized over a century ago. Controversy as to the name of the cell, the origin of the cell, and even which cells in particular may be designated as such still challenge pathologists and confound those treating patients with a diagnosis of "Hürthle cell" anything within the diagnosis, especially if that anything is a sizable mass lesion. The diagnosis of Hürthle cell adenoma (HCA) or Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC) has typically relied on a judgement call by pathologists as to the presence or absence of capsular and/or vascular invasion of the adjacent thyroid parenchyma, easy to note in widely invasive disease and a somewhat subjective diagnosis for minimally invasive or borderline invasive disease. Diagnostic specificity, which has incorporated a sharp increase in molecular genetic studies of thyroid tumor subtypes and the integration of molecular testing into preoperative management protocols, continues to be challenged by Hürthle cell neoplasia. Here, we provide the improving yet still murky state of what is known about Hürthle cell tumor genetics, clinical management, and based upon what we are learning about the genetics of other thyroid tumors, how to manage expectations, by pathologists, clinicians, and patients, for more actionable, precise classifications of Hürthle cell tumors of the thyroid.
Topics: Adenoma, Oxyphilic; Biopsy; Genome, Mitochondrial; Humans; Mutation; Oxyphil Cells; Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyroidectomy
PubMed: 34177816
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.696386 -
The Indian Journal of Surgery Feb 2016Hurthle cell lesion is one of the most questionable clinico-pathological entities in most of its aspects. Literature has used the terms oncocytic, oxyphilic, Hurthle,... (Review)
Review
Hurthle cell lesion is one of the most questionable clinico-pathological entities in most of its aspects. Literature has used the terms oncocytic, oxyphilic, Hurthle, and Ashkanazy interchangeably; what does each term denote? Who first described these cells? What is the cell of origin? How much Hurthle cells should be present to define the lesion as Hurthle cell one? Is it possible to differentiate hyperplastic from neoplastic and benign from malignant Hurthle cell lesion on a non-histopathologic ground? Does it belong to follicular or to papillary neoplasms or should it be classified separately? Can we anticipate its clinical behavior or predict its outcome? How can we manage? We will try to answer these questions in light of the ongoing relevant arguments with the aim of resolving some uncertainties and suggesting how to solve others.
PubMed: 27186039
DOI: 10.1007/s12262-015-1381-x -
Thyroid : Official Journal of the... Mar 2022Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and Hurthle cell carcinoma (HCC) are rare and aggressive thyroid cancers with limited published data comparing their outcomes or...
Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and Hurthle cell carcinoma (HCC) are rare and aggressive thyroid cancers with limited published data comparing their outcomes or regarding their subtypes. The aim of this study was to describe clinicopathological features and compare clinical outcomes of patients with FTC and HCC based on the 2017 World Health Organization definition and extent of vascular invasion (VI). We retrospectively studied 190 patients with HCC and FTC primarily treated with surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between 1986 and 2015. Patients were classified as minimally invasive (MI), encapsulated angioinvasive with focal VI (EA-FVI), encapsulated angioinvasive with extensive VI (EA-EVI), and as widely invasive (WI). To compare clinical outcomes, patients were grouped as follows: group 1 = FTC-MI and FTC EA-FVI, group 2 = FTC EA-EVI and FTC-WI, group 3 = HCC-MI and HCC EA-FVI, group 4 = HCC EA-EVI and HCC-WI. Outcomes of interest were overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), and distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS). Outcomes were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with log-rank test. Patients with HCC ( = 111) were more likely to be older than 55 years old (59% vs. 27%, < 0.001) with a tendency to present with more extensive VI (33% vs. 19%, = 0.07) compared with FTC ( = 79). Comparing groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, group 4 patients were more likely to recur (DFS 98%, 93%, 98% vs. 73%, respectively, = 0.0069). There was no statistically significant difference in OS, DSS LRRFS, or DRFS. Stratified by extent of VI (no, focal, and extensive VI), patients with extensive VI were more likely to recur (RFS 100%, 95%, 77%, = 0.0025) and had poorer distant control (DRFS: 100%, 95%, 80%, = 0.022), compared with patients absent or focal VI. Accurate assessment of the extent of VI and tumor phenotype (follicular vs. Hurthle) are essential in identifying patients at higher risk of recurrence.
Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Follicular; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Oxyphil Cells; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Thyroid Neoplasms
PubMed: 35078345
DOI: 10.1089/thy.2021.0424 -
OncoTargets and Therapy 2016Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC) can present either as a minimally invasive or as a widely invasive tumor. HCC generally has a more aggressive clinical behavior compared... (Review)
Review
Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC) can present either as a minimally invasive or as a widely invasive tumor. HCC generally has a more aggressive clinical behavior compared with the other differentiated thyroid cancers, and it is associated with a higher rate of distant metastases. Minimally invasive HCC demonstrates much less aggressive behavior; lesions <4 cm can be treated with thyroid lobectomy alone, and without radioactive iodine (RAI). HCC has been observed to be less iodine-avid compared with other differentiated thyroid cancers; however, recent data have demonstrated improved survival with RAI use in patients with HCC >2 cm and those with nodal and distant metastases. Patients with localized iodine-resistant disease who are not candidates for a wait-and-watch approach can be treated with localized therapies. Systemic therapy is reserved for patients with progressive, widely metastatic HCC.
PubMed: 27853381
DOI: 10.2147/OTT.S119980 -
Endocrinology and Metabolism (Seoul,... Oct 2021Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC), a type of thyroid carcinoma, is rare in South Korea, and few studies have investigated its prognosis.
BACKGROUND
Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC), a type of thyroid carcinoma, is rare in South Korea, and few studies have investigated its prognosis.
METHODS
This long-term multicenter retrospective cohort study evaluated the clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes in patients with HCC who underwent thyroid surgery between 1996 and 2009.
RESULTS
The mean age of the 97 patients included in the study was 50.3 years, and 26.8% were male. The mean size of the primary tumor was 3.2±1.8 cm, and three (3.1%) patients had distant metastasis at initial diagnosis. Ultrasonographic findings were available for 73 patients; the number of nodules with low-, intermediate-, and high suspicion was 28 (38.4%), 27 (37.0%), and 18 (24.7%), respectively, based on the Korean-Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System. Preoperatively, follicular neoplasm (FN) or suspicion for FN accounted for 65.2% of the cases according to the Bethesda category, and 13% had malignancy or suspicious for malignancy. During a median follow-up of 8.5 years, eight (8.2%) patients had persistent/recurrent disease, and none died of HCC. Older age, gross extrathyroidal extension (ETE), and widely invasive types of tumors were significantly associated with distant metastasis (all P<0.01). Gross ETE (hazard ratio [HR], 27.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2 to 346.4; P=0.01) and widely invasive classification (HR, 6.5; 95% CI, 1.1 to 39.4; P=0.04) were independent risk factors for poor disease-free survival (DFS).
CONCLUSION
The long-term prognosis of HCC is relatively favorable in South Korea from this study, although this is not a nation-wide data, and gross ETE and widely invasive cancer are significant prognostic factors for DFS. The diagnosis of HCC by ultrasonography and cytopathology remains challenging.
Topics: Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Oxyphil Cells; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 34731935
DOI: 10.3803/EnM.2021.1151 -
Cancers Dec 2020Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC) represents 3-4% of thyroid carcinoma cases. It is considered to be more aggressive than non-oncocytic thyroid carcinomas. However, due to... (Review)
Review
Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC) represents 3-4% of thyroid carcinoma cases. It is considered to be more aggressive than non-oncocytic thyroid carcinomas. However, due to its rarity, the pathological characteristics and biological behavior of HCC remain to be elucidated. The Hürthle cell is characterized cytologically as a large cell with abundant eosinophilic, granular cytoplasm, and a large hyperchromatic nucleus with a prominent nucleolus. Cytoplasmic granularity is due to the presence of numerous mitochondria. These mitochondria display packed stacking cristae and are arranged in the center. HCC is more often observed in females in their 50-60s. Preoperative diagnosis is challenging, but indicators of malignancy are male, older age, tumor size > 4 cm, a solid nodule with an irregular border, or the presence of psammoma calcifications according to ultrasound. Thyroid lobectomy alone is sufficient treatment for small, unifocal, intrathyroidal carcinomas, or clinically detectable cervical nodal metastases, but total thyroidectomy is recommended for tumors larger than 4 cm. The effectiveness of radioactive iodine is still debated. Molecular changes involve cellular signaling pathways and mitochondria-related DNA. Current knowledge of Hürthle cell carcinoma, including clinical, pathological, and molecular features, with the aim of improving clinical management, is reviewed.
PubMed: 33374707
DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010026 -
Cancer Cytopathology May 2021Hürthle cell-predominant thyroid fine needle aspirations (FNA) are encountered frequently in routine practice, yet they are often challenging to diagnose accurately and... (Review)
Review
Hürthle cell-predominant thyroid fine needle aspirations (FNA) are encountered frequently in routine practice, yet they are often challenging to diagnose accurately and are associated with significant interobserver variability. This is largely due to the ubiquity of Hürthle cells in thyroid pathology, ranging from nonneoplastic conditions to aggressive malignancies. Although limitations in cytomorphologic diagnoses likely will remain for the foreseeable future, our knowledge of the molecular pathogenesis of Hürthle cell neoplasia and application of molecular testing to cytologic material have increased dramatically within the past decade. This review provides context behind the challenges in diagnosis of Hürthle cell lesions and summarizes the more recent advances in diagnostic tools.
Topics: Adenoma, Oxyphilic; Animals; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cytodiagnosis; Humans; Thyroid Neoplasms
PubMed: 33108684
DOI: 10.1002/cncy.22375