Table 2.
Distinctive characteristics of WLPTC compared to other PTC subtypes.
| Histological features | Classic PTC | WLPTC | Oncocytic PTC | Tall cell PTC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growth pattern | Papillary | Papillary | Papillary or follicular | Papillary |
| Cell apperance | Slighly eosinophilic cytoplasm | Oncocytic changes | Oncocytic changes | Oncocytic changes ; three times as tall as wide |
| Papillary nuclear features | Yes | Yes | Yes | Mainly elongated dark nuclei |
| Lymphocytic infiltrate | Slight | Dense | Absent | Slight |
| Underlying CLT | Possible | Very common | Absent | Rare |
| Extrathyroid extension | Possible | Rare | Possible | Common |
| Vasular invasion | Rare | Rare | Possible | Common |
| LN metastases | Common | Common | Common | Very common |
| Distant metastases | Possible | Rare | Possible | Common |
PTC, Papillary Thyroid Cancer; WLPTC, Warthin-like Papillary Thyroid Cancer; CLT, Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis; LN, Lymph Node.