The morphological variants of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: a clinico-pathological study--AFIP experience. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

Many variants of papillary carcinoma of thyroid have been described. Identification of some of these may have prognostic implications. Eighty-two cases of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid diagnosed at Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi over a six year period were reviewed with the aim of identifying these variants. Fifty-eight (70.7%) were classical papillary carcinoma. Thirteen (15.9%) had follicular variant, 6 (7.3%) columnar cell variant and 3 (3.7%) had tall cell variant. The mean age at diagnosis was 27 years for classical papillary carcinoma, 46 years for follicular variant, 61 years for columnar cell variant and 52 years for tall cell variant. The columnar cell variant had a more aggressive clinical presentation than others. Tall cell, columnar cell and diffuse sclerosing variant have a poor prognosis. An effort should be made to identify them on histopathology so that specific therapy can be planned.