Differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma from papillary thyroid hyperplasia by immunohistochemistry

Objective To study the significance of CK19, HBME-1, galectin-3 and CD10 in the differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma from papillary thyroid hyperplasia. Methods A total of 85 cases, including 32 with classical papillary carcinoma(CPC), 11 with follicular variant papillary carcinoma(FVPC),7 with papillary microcalinoma(PM), 20 with nodular goiter with papillary hyperplasia(NGWPH) and 15 with follicular adenoma with papillary hyperplasia(FAWPH), were examined using a panel of antibodies by EnVision immunocytochemical labeling. Results The positive expression rates of CK19, in CPC, FVPC, PM, NGWPH and FAWPH were 96.9%, 100%, 100%,30% and 26.7%, HBME-1 96.9%, 90.9%, 85.7%, 10% and 13.3%, and galectin-3 93.8%, 81.8%, 85.7%, 10% and 13.3%, respectively. There was significant different between papillary thyroid carcinoma and papillary thyroid hyperplasia in CK19, HBME-1 and galectin-3 expression (P0.01). CD10 expression was negative in normal, benign and malignant lesions. Conclusions The combination of CK19 with HBME-1 and galectin-3 may be used to differentiate papillary thyroid carcinoma from papillary thyroid hyperplasia though it is not always definite.