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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2024; 132(08): 469-475
DOI: 10.1055/a-2322-7355
Article

Demonstration of Epstein-Barr Virus by In Situ Hybridization in Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas Developing on Background of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Serap Karaarslan
1   Department of Pathology, İzmir Tınaztepe University, İzmir, Turkey
,
Esin Kasap
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey
,
Fatma Nur İpek
3   Private Ege Pathology Laboratory, İzmir, Turkey
,
Mahir Akyıldız
4   Department of General Surgery, Ege University, İzmir Turkey
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Abstract

Aim This study aimed to demonstrate the role of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) developing on the background of Hashimotoʼs thyroiditis (HT).

Methods The presence of EBV in tumoral tissue, lymphocytes, and peritumoral normal thyroid tissue was investigated using the in situ hybridization method in paraffin blocks. The subtypes of PTC, tumor diameter, TNM stage, multifocality, invasion of thyroid capsule, perineural invasion, and muscular tissue invasion were identified and compared according to EBV involvement.

Results Eighty-one patients with HT diagnosis, with 93.8% (n=76) female and 6.2% (n=5) male, were included in the study. Papillary microcarcinoma was the pathological diagnosis in 24.2% (n=15) of the cases. EBV was identified in 58.06% (n=36) of the tumor cells nuclei, 58.06% (n=36) in the tumor cell cytoplasm, 16.12% (n=10) in tumor infiltrative lymphocytes, and 53.2% (n=33) in normal parenchymal follicle epithelial cells (NPFEC). In the T2 stage, the rate of EBV nuclear positivity in patients was significantly higher (p=0.034). The classic variant of papillary carcinoma was accompanied by a significantly higher rate of EBV-negative NPFEC (67.6%, p=0.049). In multifocal tumors, EBV positivity was found to be significantly higher in lymphocytes in the surrounding tissues (58.3%, p=0.034).

Conclusion A significant increase in EBV positivity in the surrounding tissue lymphocytes was observed in multifocal PTC developing on a background of HT. This suggests a possible association between HT and EBV.

Keywords

Epstein-Barr virus - thyroid papillary carcinoma - Hashimoto thyroiditis - microcarcinoma - multifocality


Publication History

Received: 28 January 2024
Received: 04 April 2024

Accepted: 30 April 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
08 May 2024

Article published online:
03 July 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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