[Expression and clinical significance of galectin-3 in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The most challenging problem in diagnosing thyroid nodules is to distinguish benign disease from malignant disease. Although fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an important diagnostic procedure, its inherent limitations affect the diagnostic accuracy. Therefore, this study was designed to search for biological markers which can distinguish benign lesion from malignant lesion of thyroid.

METHODS

The expression of galectin-3 in 30 specimens of thyroid cancer, 10 specimens of thyroid adenoma, and 10 specimens of nodular thyroid goiter were detected by LSAB immunocytochemistry. The results of routine pathologic examination of gland species were set as golden standard.

RESULTS

The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy rate of impression immunocytochemistry in detecting galectin-3 were 96.66%, 100.00%, 100.00%, 95.23%, and 98.00%, respectively; those of routine impression cytology were 86.66%, 100.00%, 100.00%, 83.33%, and 92.00%, respectively; those of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) were 86.66%, 100.00%, 100.00%, 83.33%, and 92.00%, respectively; those of FNAC were 76.66%, 100.00%, 100.00%, 74.07%, and 86.00%, respectively. Galectin-3 was commonly expressed in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, but didn't express in thyroid adenoma and nodular thyroid goiter.

CONCLUSIONS

Galectin-3 is commonly expressed in thyroid malignant lesions, but not in benign lesions. Immunocytochemistry assay can distinguish well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma from thyroid adnoma and nodular thyroid goiter.