Demonstration of Epstein-Barr Virus by in situ hybridization in papillary thyroid carcinomas developing on background of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Aim. This study aimed to demonstrate the role of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) developing on background of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Methods. The presence of EBV in tumoral tissue, lymphocytes, and peritumoral normal thyroid tissue was investigated by the in situ hybridization method in paraffin blocks. The subtype of PTC, tumor diameter, TNM stage, multifocality, invasion of thyroid capsule, perineural invasion, and muscular tissue invasion were identified, and compared according to EBV involvement. Results. 81 HT diagnosed patients, 93.8% (n= 76) female, and 6.2% (n= 5) male were included in the study. Papillary microcarcinoma was the pathological diagnosis in 24.2% (n= 15) of the cases. EBV was identified in 58.06% (n= 36) of the tumor cells' nuclei, 58.06% (n= 36) in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells, 16.12% (n= 10) in tumor infiltrative lymphocytes and 53.2% (n= 33) in normal parenchymal follicle epithelial cells (NPFEC). In the T2 stage, the rate of patients EBV nuclear positivity was significantly higher (p= 0.034). The classic variant of papillary carcinoma was accompanied by a significantly higher rate of EBV-negative NPFEC (67.6%, p=0.049). In multifocal tumors, EBV positivity was found to be significantly higher in lymphocytes in the surrounding tissues (58.3%, p= 0.034). Conclusion. In multifocal PTC developing on a background of HT, a significant increase in EBV positivity in the surrounding tissues lymphocytes has been observed. This suggests a possibility of an association between HT and EBV.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 28. Januar 2024

Angenommen nach Revision: 08. Mai 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
08. Mai 2024