From the Journal Article:"The meaning and predictivity of Hürthle cells in fine needle aspiration cytology for thyroid nodular disease." European Journal of Surgical Oncology , Volume 30 , Issue 7 , Pages 786 - 789; Authors: P. Kauffmann , C. Dejax , M. de Latour , J. Dauplat
This research study investigates the significance of Hürthle cells in thyroid nodule fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and what they predict. This study looked at 110 patients with Hürthle cells in FNAC. The study followed the patients for many years and noted the subsequent trends.
The following results were determined:
1) The density of Hürthle cells in FNACs ranged from 20 to 100%.
2) 89 out of 110 had benign nodular disease (Hürthle cell or follicular adenoma) 80%.
3) 20% of patients had malignant tumours. So statistics favor benign growth.
4) The presence of more than 50% Hürthle cells in FNAC correlated with benign or malignant Hürthle cell neoplasm.
5) Hürthle cell carcinomas displayed more than 90% Hürthle cells in FNAC, the more dense the packing the higher the chance that you have a carcinoma.
Now this is just one of the more recent larger group studies. So when you get the report.. look and see if they note disperse or dense clusters. I am inferring that the hurtle cells were dispersed throughout from the blurb in your original post.
Hope this helps. I now know a bit more about FNA results.
MG
