This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Takano, T. Articles by Amino, N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Takano, T. Articles by Amino, N.

Diagnosis of Thyroid Malignant Lymphoma by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction Detecting the Monoclonality of Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Messenger Ribonucleic Acid¹

Department of Laboratory Medicine (T.T., N.A.), Osaka University Medical School, D2, 2–2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871; and Kuma Hospital (A.M., F.M., H.Y., K.K.), 8–2-35 Simoyamate-Dori, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0011, Japan

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Toru Takano, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, D2, 2–2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. E-mail: ttakano{at}labo.med.osaka-u.ac.jp

Distinguishing between thyroid malignant lymphoma and lymphocytic thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) is quite difficult and problematic. Molecular techniques to detect clonal lymphoid proliferation based on Ig heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangement may be used to facilitate more accurate diagnosis of malignant lymphoma. We recently established a method for diagnosing thyroid tumors by analyzing ribonucleic acids (RNAs) extracted from the needles used for fine needle aspiration biopsy (aspiration biopsy-RT-PCR). By applying the aspiration biopsy-RT-PCR method to detection of the monoclonality of IgH messenger RNA (mRNA), an accurate molecular-based diagnosis of malignant lymphoma can be established as an adjunct to cytological diagnosis. We first studied RNAs from fresh tissues samples of 8 cases of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and 18 malignant lymphomas to detect the monoclonality of IgH mRNA by seminested RT-PCR. Monoclonality was detected in 8 of 18 (44.4%) malignant lymphomas, but in none of the 8 cases of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. We then studied aspirates from 10 cases of thyroid malignant lymphoma, 4 cases of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and 1 case each of adenomatous goiter and papillary carcinoma. Monoclonality was detected in the aspirates from 4 of 10 malignant lymphomas (40%), but not from other tissues. Thus, RT-PCR detection of monoclonality of IgH mRNA in addition to cytological examination may be useful in diagnosing thyroid malignant lymphoma.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Takano, A. Miyauchi, F. Matsuzuka, H. Yoshida, T. Notomi, K. Kuma, and N. Amino Detection of Monoclonality of the Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Gene in Thyroid Malignant Lymphoma by Vectorette Polymerase Chain Reaction J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2005; 90(2): 720 - 723. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Takano, Y. Hasegawa, A. Miyauchi, F. Matsuzuka, H. Yoshida, K. Kuma, and N. Amino Quantitative Analysis of Thymosin Beta-10 Messenger RNA in Thyroid Carcinomas Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol., July 1, 2002; 32(7): 229 - 232. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Thieblemont, A. Mayer, C. Dumontet, Y. Barbier, E. Callet-Bauchu, P. Felman, F. Berger, X. Ducottet, C. Martin, G. Salles, et al. Primary Thyroid Lymphoma Is a Heterogeneous Disease J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2002; 87(1): 105 - 111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]