muramidase and Thyroid-Neoplasms

Follicular dendritic cell (FDC) sarcoma, especially of extranodal origin, is an extremely rare malignancy of FDC origin, with only 1 case previously documented in the thyroid. The authors report the case of a 58-year-old female who presented with a painless mass in her neck. The neoplastic cells expressed monocyte/macrophage-specific marker CD68 (KP-1) and lysozymes and the dendritic cell-associated antigens CD35 and Fascin but was negative for CD1a, CD21, and CD23, most consistent with a diagnosis of FDC sarcoma. BIOMED-2 multiplex polymerase chain reaction analysis showed B-cell clonality in both tumor and its adjacent coexisting Hashimoto's thyroiditis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a rare entity of FDC sarcoma primarily involving the thyroid gland coexisting with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Topics: Antigens, CD; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; B-Lymphocytes; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carrier Proteins; Clone Cells; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular; Female; Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain; Hashimoto Disease; Humans; Microfilament Proteins; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Receptors, Complement 3b; Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyroidectomy

Multinucleate giant cells (MGCs) occur in a variety of inflammatory, hyperplastic, and neoplastic thyroid disorders. They also have been recognized as a feature of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), particularly in fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB). However, the origin of the MGCs and their comparative frequencies in histologic and cytologic preparations have not been established. Therefore, histologic sections from 76 cases of PTC were examined and immunohistochemical analyses for epithelial and histiocytic markers were performed. Giant cells were identified in histologic sections of 35 cases (46%) of PTC. In cytologic preparations, MGCs were identified in 12 of 22 cases (55%). MGCs were present within follicles or adjacent to papillae, and were often associated with resorption of colloid. Immunohistochemical results indicated that MGCs were of histiocytic rather than epithelial origin. Multinucleate giant cells in PTC most likely represent a response to leakage of colloid into the interstitium. Although MGCs have been described most commonly in inflammatory conditions of the thyroid, the results of this study suggest that their presence should prompt a careful appraisal of associated PTC.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; Antigens, CD; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; Biopsy, Needle; Carcinoma, Papillary; Female; Giant Cells; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Thyroglobulin; Thyroid Neoplasms

Paraffin sections of 106 primary thyroid carcinomas were the subject of an immunocytochemical study to determine the density of infiltrates of S-100 protein-positive dendritic/Langerhans cells (LC), lysozyme-positive histiocytes, and LCA-positive lymphocytes. Evidence of dense infiltrates of LCs was found only in the majority of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PCs). The determination of the quantity of LCs proved to be a highly effective means of assessing the prognosis of these tumors. Irrespective of other morphologic and clinical features, no single instance of death resulting from cancer occurred among 23 PCs with dense LC infiltrates (including 6 tumors of stage pT4), while 9 of 53 (17%) of the remaining patients ultimately died from thyroid cancer. On the other hand, the degree of histiocytic and lymphocytic infiltrations was not associated with a distinct biologic behavior neither among PC nor among the remaining thyroid carcinomas. These findings suggest that LCs may play an important role in the immunologic defense mechanisms of the host against the tumor only in the papillary type of thyroid cancer.

Topics: Amidohydrolases; Carcinoma, Papillary; Dendritic Cells; Follow-Up Studies; Histiocytes; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Langerhans Cells; Lymphocytes; Muramidase; Prognosis; S100 Proteins; Thyroid Neoplasms

The lysozyme (muramidase) activity was measured in the sera of 84 dogs with neoplastic disease. Neoplasms included 32 lymphomas, 13 primary bone neoplasms, 5 melanomas, 5 thyroid neoplasms, 9 soft tissue sarcomas, 5 mast cell sarcomas, and 15 carcinomas. The sera from 21 healthy dogs served as control. Dogs with neoplastic disease had significantly (P less than 0.005) higher serum lysozyme activity than did the healthy controls. For lymphosarcoma, dogs with clinical signs of systemic disease had significantly higher serum lysozyme activity than did dogs without clinical signs. For bone neoplasms, dogs with metastatic disease had higher serum lysozyme activity than did dogs without metastasis. Increased lysozyme activity may be a useful marker of macrophage-mediated host responses to neoplasms in dogs.

Topics: Animals; Bone Neoplasms; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Lymphoma; Mast-Cell Sarcoma; Muramidase; Neoplasms; Sarcoma; Thyroid Neoplasms