Abstract. Background: Thyroid carcinoma typically presents as a dominant solitary thyroid nodule. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is considered by most to be valuable in the evaluation of palpable thyroid nodules. At present, efforts are directed to find additional markers of malignancy that may prove to be useful adjuncts to FNAB. Aim of the Study: To establish the role of dendritic cell (DC) expression as a complementary marker to fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of solitary thyroid nodules. Study Design: As CD83 is expressed on mature dendritic cells, CD83 + DC was studied by immunohistochemistry in 43 specimens from solitary thyroid nodules removed during surgery. They were compared to CD 83 + DC in surrounding tissue from the same patients. Results: CD83 + DC was significantly higher in papillary carcinoma (14.287±3.76) compared to normal tissue and to follicular carcinoma. DC expression was very low in medullary carcinoma (0.023±0.03) compared to normal tissue and to other cases of benign and malignant adenoma. The sensitivity of CD83 + DC was 85% and the specificity was 82%. Conclusion: CD83 + DC expression in papillary carcinoma may help in its differential diagnosis of follicular carcinoma from other papillary variants. In addition to fine needle aspiration biopsy, the very low DC expression in medullary carcinoma could help in the diagnosis of such cases. Dendritic cell expression potentially represents a new marker technique to improve the sensitivity and specificity in evaluating solitary thyroid nodules.

Keywords. CD83 • Dendritic cells • Papillary carcinoma • Thyroid nodules

Gadalla, F., Shady, M.A., El Shinawi, A., El Din, S.S., and El-Shinawi, M.:
Dendritic cell expression of CD83 in solitary thyroid nodules. Thyroid Science, 4(10):CLS1-5, 2009.

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