Production of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in nontoxic thyroid tumors. An immunohistochemical study.

Thyroid tissue specimens from 27 patients with thyroid tumors were examined for thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) by the peroxidase-labeled antibody method. The result revealed localization of T4 in 12 of the 14 follicular adenomas, in all the 8 papillary carcinomas and in 1 of the 3 follicular carcinomas studied, and of T3 in 13 of the 14 follicular adenomas, in all the 8 papillary carcinomas and in all the 3 follicular carcinomas. In the tumor tissue, the thyroid hormones were demonstrated in the colloid substance, on the luminal surface of tumor cells and in their cytoplasm. Compared with nontumorous thyroid tissue, the tumor tissue showed localization of the hormones predominantly in the cytoplasm and to a lesser extent in the colloid substance, with conspicuous variations in tissue distribution of positive areas and intensity of staining. This tendency was more marked in thyroid carcinomas. The demonstration of T4 and T3 in routine histological paraffin sections of formalin-fixed thyroid tissues in this investigation indicates potential usefulness of thyroid hormone detection by the peroxidase-labeled antibody technique. It is an effective diagnostic tool for evaluating the functional activity of the thyroid tumors as well as for determining whether a malignant growth under examination originates from the thyroid.