Hurthle Cell Lesions

Abstract

Thyroid tumors composed predominantly of Hurthle cells are a group of uncommon tumors recognized by the WHO as an oncocytic subset of follicular neoplasms. For this reason, Hurthle cell neoplasms can also be called “follicular neoplasms with oncocytic features.” Although the name was coined by Ewing in 1928, the Hurthle cell was originally described by Azkanazy in 1898 as a polygonal cell with abundant granular cytoplasm, the latter reflecting the abundance of mitochondria present in the cytoplasm. Hurthle cells have an enlarged round to oval nucleus with a prominent nucleolus. Other names for this cell have included Azkanazy cells, oxyphilic cells, and oncocytes. Hurthle cells are essentially nonfunctional, and Hurthle cell nodules are almost always cold nodules using radionuclide scans.