Scanning Electron Microscopy of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Thyroid

Keimyung Medical Journal 1985;4(2):159-167.

갑상선유두암 흡인세포의 주사전자 현미경상

박성배; 서인수; 김현철

Abstract

The author studied 4 cases of intrathyroidal and extrathyroidal papillary carcinomas of thyroid confirmed by Papanicolaou stain and thyroidectomy and observed surface features of tumor cells of the same area by scanning electron microscope and light microscope respectively. The result obtained were summarized as follow: Surface features of tumor cells on the area of free cells are similar to that of follicular cells but papillary branching with fibrovascular core is prominent on the aggregated area of tumor cells. This papillary branching is more easily recognizable on the scanning electron microscope than light microscope. Microvilli are focally present on the tumor cells. Pleomorphic microvilli frequently seen on the adenocarcinoma was not present. There is no difference of surface features between intrathyroidal and extrathyroidal types of papillary carcinoma. Integrating the above result, observation of the surface features of fine needle aspiration of the papillary carcinoma is helpfu] for diagnostic tool. But it is thought that artifacts on the specimen during specimen preparation is main problem to solve in the future.