ANGIOGENESIS AND CK19 EXPRESSION IN PAPILLARY THYROID CARCINOMA

Purpose: Aim of the present study is to evaluate immunohistochemically the diagnostic value of CK19 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PC) and to determine the microvascular density (MDV) in tumor tissue by CD34. Methods: We studied immunohistochemical expression of CK19 in both tumor tissue and adjacent non-tumor tissue of ten patients that had undergone surgical resection for PC. We evaluated the MVD by CD34, an endothelial marker, in the same zones. Results: All neoplasms were CK19 positive and the tumor tissue showed a diffuse and strong cytoplasmic expression. In most of the cases, the adjacent non-tumor tissue was negative for CK19. However, a focal modarate staining occured in oncocytic cells and in areas of degeneration. The MVD in tumor tissue was 29.1±6.05. The microvessels were unevenly distributed as opposed to those in the adjacent tissue. The MVD in non-tumor tissue was 36.4±6.38. Conclusions: CK19 is a highly specific marker for PC, which means that it may be used as an additive tool in diagnosis of this carcinoma.. Angiogenesis is reduced and this may affect the biological behavior of the PC.