Worrisome histologic alterations following fine-needle aspiration of the parathyroid

J Clin Pathol. 2006 Oct;59(10):1094-6. doi: 10.1136/jcp.2005.029017.

Abstract

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a procedure that is increasingly being performed. Artefacts occurring after FNA are reported to complicate the histological analysis of the tissue, mainly in the thyroid; WHAFFT (worrisome histologic alterations following FNA of thyroid) is well documented in the literature. The case of a male patient with hypercalcaemia who was subsequently found to have a nodule in the thyroid gland is reported here. He underwent FNA, followed by a total thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy. The abnormality in the parathyroid gland showed worrisome histological changes that were suspicious of a malignant lesion, resembling the changes seen in the thyroid gland after FNA. Parathyroid cells were identified by a review of the previous FNA. The concept of WHAFFT, which can mimic the features of malignancy in the parathyroid gland, is therefore introduced.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / pathology
  • Artifacts
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle / adverse effects*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parathyroid Glands / pathology*
  • Parathyroid Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Parathyroidectomy
  • Thyroidectomy