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Immunhistochemical and electron microscope analysis of adenomas of the thyroid gland

I. A comparative investigation of hot and cold nodules

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Summary

Histologic, immunhistochemical and electron microscopic changes in 8 cases of scintigraphically proven autonomous thyroid adenomas are described and compared with non-functioning adenomas. Adenomas with a light microscopic appearance suggesting autonomy show follicles which are mainly small or normal sized and lined by columnar thyroid cells with a partly vacuolated and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunhistochemically a high content of thyroglobulin corresponds to the amount of rough endoplasmatic reticulum. Typical ultrastructural criteria are a well developed cytocavitary network, numerous mainly apically localized lysosomes, prominent Golgi fields with sprouting vesicles and autophagic vacuoles. The cell surface is, when compared to non-functioning adenomas, enlared apically by numerous long microvilli and basally by deep infoldings. On contrast to experimentally TSH-stimulated animal thyroids, colloid droplets and pseudopodia are rare. The morphological findings are compared with recent biochemical results and the diagnostic value of electron microscopy is discussed.

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  1. Institute of Pathology, University of Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany

    H. Dralle & W. Böcker

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  1. H. Dralle
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  2. W. Böcker
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Dralle, H., Böcker, W. Immunhistochemical and electron microscope analysis of adenomas of the thyroid gland. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 374, 285–301 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432652

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