Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 51. No. 2., 2012.
Original scientific paper
Intensity and Distribution of Immunohistochemical Expression of Galectin-3 in Thyroid Neoplasms
Dubravka Mateša-Anić
Sandra Moslavac
Neven Mateša
Hrvoje Čupić
Zvonko Kusić
Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the intensity and distribution of galectin-3 expression in benign and malignant thyroid neoplasms by immunohistochemical method. Immunohistochemical expression of galectin-3 was analyzed in surgical thyroid specimens from 82 patients with histopathologic diagnosis of follicular adenoma (n=32), Hürthle cell adenoma (n=10) and papillary carcinoma (n=40). Results of intracytoplasmatic and intranuclear expression of galectin-3 were scored using a semi-quantitative scale for intensity. Intracytoplasmatic expression of galectin-3 was positive in 18 (43%) benign neoplasms and in all 40 malignant neoplasms. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of intracytoplasmatic expression of galectin-3 as a malignant marker in thyroid neoplasms were 78.1%, 100% and 57.1%, respectively. Intracytoplasmatic expression of galectin-3 was positive in 10 (31%) cases of follicular adenoma and 8 (80%) cases of Hürthle cell adenoma. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of intranuclear expression of galectin-3 as a malignant marker in thyroid neoplasms were 84.1%, 100% and 69%, respectively. There was no strong intensity of either intracytoplasmatic or intranuclear expression of galectin-3 in benign thyroid neoplasms, and no weak intensity of either intracytoplasmatic or intranuclear expression of galectin-3 in malignant
neoplasms. There was no statistically significant difference between intracytoplasmatic and intranuclear expression of galectin-3 in benign thyroid neoplasms. The results of our study indicate that the immunohistochemical expression of galectin-3 is a highly sensitive marker of malignancy, with low specificity in differentiating malignant from benign thyroid neoplasms. The analysis of intensity and distribution of galectin-3 expression could improve the specificity of the method.
Keywords
Galectin-3; Immunohistochemistry; Thyroid tumors
Hrčak ID:
106193
URI
Publication date:
1.7.2012.
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