Tall cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland is an aggressive variant of papillary carcinoma with a respectable 20% to 25% lethality. Its histologic features are characterized by a basal orientation of nuclei, abundant eosinophilic or oxyphilic cytoplasm, and a cellular height-width ratio greater than 2:1. These distinguish it from another aggressive variant, columnar cell carcinoma, which has a stratification of its nuclei and scant cellular cytoplasm.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
HawkWAHazardJB. The many appearances of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Cleve Clin Q1976; 43: 207–16.
2.
JohnsonTLLloydRVThompsonNWBeierwaltesWHSissonJC. Prognostic implications of the tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Am J Surg Pathol1988; 12: 22–7.
3.
EvansHL. Columnar-cell carcinoma of the thyroid. A report of two cases of an aggressive variant of thyroid carcinoma. Am J Clin Pathol1986; 85: 77–80.
4.
AkslenLAVarhaugJE. Thyroid carcinoma with mixed tall-cell and columnar-cell between. Am J Clin Pathol1990; 94: 442–5.
