Thyroid Histopathology Examples

The thyroid gland has two capsular coverings. There is an outer fibrous covering that is contiguous with the pretracheal and deep cervical fascia. Beneath this is the true glandular capsule that has involutions on its surface and sends incomplete septae deeper into the substance of the gland that accompanies its blood supply and lymphatics. The thyroid’s microscopic unit is the follicle – an irregularly shaped cell lined structure that surrounds collections of colloidal thyroglobin. Most of a follicle’s lining cells are low cuboidal epithelial cells. Intermixed with the follicular cells, but not abutting the follicles, are the parafollicular C-cells. Thyroid histopathology can be confusing and in some cases to some degree interpretive. It is important that the pediatric thyroid surgeon become conversant with the generalities of thyroid pathology