Thyroid & parathyroid
Papillary thyroid carcinoma
Other subtypes
Encapsulated follicular
Author: Shahid Islam, M.D., Ph.D.
Last author update: 1 March 2009
Last staff update: 28 August 2023
Copyright: 2003-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: papillary carcinoma thyroid encapsulated
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Diagnosis | Prognostic factors | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Cytology description | Cytology imagesCite this page: Islam S. Encapsulated follicular. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/thyroidencapsulatedfollicularvariant.html. Accessed December 22nd, 2024.
Definition / general
- Encapsulated follicular neoplasm with features of encapsulated and follicular variant of papillary carcinoma
- Commonly sent for consultation
Diagnosis
- Recommended to use strict criteria for diagnosis, and to classify questionable cases as well differentiated thyroid neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential (Am J Clin Pathol 2002;117:16)
Prognostic factors
- Excellent prognosis, better than nonencapsulated follicular variant (Cancer 2006;107:1255)
- May have late bone metastases with follicular pattern but without papillary nuclear features (Mod Pathol 2000;13:861)
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Capsular and vascular invasion may be present; if no capsular or vascular invasion present, should have widespread nuclear features of papillary carcinoma PLUS some additional features of papillary carcinoma (papillae, fibrous bands, dense eosinophilic colloid), otherwise diagnose as follicular adenoma or well differentiated thyroid neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential
Microscopic (histologic) images
Contributed by Andrey Bychkov, M.D., Ph.D.
Enlarged vesicular nuclei with irregular membranes
Evident major and minor diagnostic features
Minor diagnostic features
Free floating of small tumor fragment in vascular lumen
Small piece of tumor floats in vascular lumen
Images hosted on other servers:
lesion with nuclear
features of papillary
carcinoma (inset)
Capsular invasion
3 cm tumor in 51 year old man (fig. 1)
Cytology description
- Ultrafast Papanicolaou stained smears makes clear nuclei more conspicuous (Cancer 2006;108:174)
Cytology images
Images hosted on other servers:
Ultrafast Pap stain
Ultrafast Pap staining of
follicular adenoma and
follicular variant
