Cytomorphology of Columnar Cell Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma-A Case Report

Columnar cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (CCV-PTC) is a rare and aggressive tumor composed of tumor cells that form papillae, glands and solid structures. Fine needle aspiration on a young female patient who presented with a solitary thyroid nodule. Cytology revealed cellular smears with three dimensional clusters and papillary fragments composed of tall columnar cells. These columnar cells closely resembled respiratory epithelium. Few acini, glandular, solid, syncytial pattern and singly dispersed cells were seen. Nuclei showed pseudostratification. Nuclear grooves were seen occasionally, while intranuclear inclusions and psammoma bodies and colloid were absent. With no obvious clinical history suggesting any visceral malignancies, a diagnosis of CCV-PTC/TCV-PTC was considered. Throidectomy was done. Sections showed well circumscribed tumor with features of CCV-PTC. Here in we wish to document the Cytomorphology of this variant, features to distinguish it from its close mimickers.