Comparative findings of lymphocytic thyroiditis and thyroid lymphoma.

Objective: To compare the cytologic features of histologically proven lymphocytic (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroitidis) and primary thyroid lymphomas (TL).

Study Design: Clinical histories, smears (stained with Diff-Quik, Papanicolaou stain or hematoxylin and eosin [HE]) and surgical specimens (HE slides) were reviewed in 25 cases of lymphocytic thyroiditis and 12 of thyroid lymphomas.

Results: Surgical specimens of thyroiditis were obtained for other medical reasons: goiter and compressive symptomatology in 21 cases and neoplasms in 4 (2 papillary carcinomas, 1 follicular carcinoma and 1 oncocytic adenoma).