Abstract

Objective: The role of the galectin-3 and CD44v6 expression in the differentiation of the thyroid follicular carcinoma and follicular adenoma were investigated in many preoperative cytologic samples and significant results were achieved. In this study, we investigated galectin-3 and CD44v6 as potential supportive markers of histopathologic diagnosis in the differentiation of follicular carcinoma and adenoma of thyroid in conventional tissue sections.
Material and Method: A total of 60 thyroidectomy specimens from Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Training and Research Hospital and Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty Pathology Department were investigated retrospectively. Twenty cases of the 60 thyroidectomy specimens were diagnosed as follicular carcinoma and 40 cases were diagnosed as follicular adenoma. Sections taken adjacent to the capsule of the nodule were stained immunohistochemically by HRP-AEC method for galectin-3 and CD44v6 antibody. Then sections were investigated under light microscope and labeled as no staining (-), focal weak staining (+), moderately intense staining (++), intense staining (+++).
Results: Galectin-3 expression was significant in the differentiation of the follicular carcinoma and adenoma (p0.05).
Conclusion: Galectin-3 was determined as a potential marker in the diagnosis of follicular carcinoma but CD44v6 expression was not a diagnostic value in the differentiation of follicular carcinoma and adenoma.

Key words: CD44v6, follicular adenoma, follicular carcinoma, galectin-3, thyroid gland