Difference in CD56 Expression in Nodular Hyperplasia, Follicular Adenomas and Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma

Abstract

Background
Thyroid carcinomas are the most common malignancy of endocrine organs and the fourth most common cancer of women in
Indonesia. Most of these tumors derived from thyroid follicular cells and more than 85% of cases are papillary carcinoma. Some
cases may be confusing and cause misdiagnosis due to the morphology of these tumors are frequent overlap between nodular
hyperplasia, follicular adenoma and papillary carcinoma. Anti-CD56 is one of the diagnostic markers with high sensitivity and
specificity in distinguishing benign thyroid lesions and papillary carcinoma. The aims of this study is to analyze the differences of
CD56 expression in nodular hyperplasia, follicular adenoma and papillary carcinoma.
Methods
An observational study with cross-sectional design was performed at Departement of Anatomical Pathology Faculty of Medicine
University of Sriwijaya/Dr. Mohammad Hoesin Palembang, from 1st January 2014 to 30th June 2017. Paraffin blocks of 52 samples
are collected from nodular hyperplasia (24 cases), follicular adenoma (8 cases) and papillary carcinoma (20 cases). The slides were
immune stained using CD56 antibody. The difference of CD56 expression between papillary carcinoma and nodular hyperplasia
was analyzed using Chi-Square test while those between papillary carcinoma among follicular adenoma was analyzed using
Fisher’s exact test.
Results
In all samples of papillary carcinoma CD56 expression was negative compared to totally positive reaction in all samples of nodular
hyperplasia and follicular adenoma.
Conclusion
Anti-CD56 could be used as a diagnostic marker in distinguishing between papillary carcinoma, nodular hyperplasia and follicular
adenoma.