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Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

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Molecular Pathology of Endocrine Diseases

Part of the book series: Molecular Pathology Library ((MPLB,volume 3))

Abstract

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is currently defined as a malignant thyroid tumor with evidence of C-cell differentiation.1,2 While earlier reports had alluded to the existence of this tumor type, Robert Horn in 1951 reported a series of 7 cases of a thyroid cancer characterized by sharply defined rounded or ovoid compact cell groups of moderate size in a background of hyalinized connective tissue.3 He noted that “while not pursuing the rapid course characteristic of the giant cell, spindle cell and small cell thyroid carcinoma, these tumors have by no means the favorable prognosis of malignant adenoma and papillary tumors”. The major histopathologic features of this tumor, including the presence of stromal amyloid deposits, were defined in 1959 by Hazard and coworkers who suggested the term, medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).4

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    Ronald A. DeLellis MD (Professor, Pathologist in Chief)

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    Ronald A. DeLellis MD (Professor, Pathologist in Chief)

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    Jennifer L. Hunt

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DeLellis, R.A. (2010). Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma. In: Hunt, J. (eds) Molecular Pathology of Endocrine Diseases. Molecular Pathology Library, vol 3. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1707-2_11

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