Three-dimensional cytomorphology in fine needle aspiration biopsy of medullary thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate three-dimensional (3-D) cytomorphology in fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). STUDY DESIGN: FNAB was performed on tumors from five patients with MTC. The aspirate was stained and observed under a light microscope (LM), The aspirate was also fixed, dehydrated, critical point dried, spattered with gold ions and observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). For transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the specimen was fixed, dehydrated, embedded in an Epon mixture, cut with an ultramicrotome, mounted on copper grids, electron doubly stained with uranium acetate and lead citrate, and observed with TEM. Findings tinder SEM were correlated with those tinder LM and TEM. RESULTS: Under SEM, 3-D cytomorphology of MTC displayed a disorganized cellular arrangement with indistinct cell borders in three cases, The cell surface was uneven and had granular protrusions that corresponded to secretory granules observed tinder TEM, In one case with multiple endocrine neoplasia type IIB, there were abundant granules on the cell surface. In one case of sporadic MTC with multinucleated tumor giant cells and small cells, granular protrusions also were noted on the cell surface. CONCLUSION: Granular protrusion was a characteristic finding in FNAB of MTC under SEM and might be helpful in the differential diagnosis.