Anatomic Pathology / Original Article
Follicular-Patterned Lesions of the Thyroid
The Bane of the Pathologist

Zubair W. Baloch, MD, PhD, and Virginia A. LiVolsi, MD
Key Words: Follicular carcinoma; Follicular neoplasm; Follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma
Abstract
This review focuses on follicular-patterned lesions of the thyroid gland and their differential diagnosis. Included are a discussion of the features differentiating follicular adenoma from adenomatous or hyperplastic nodule and follicular adenoma from follicular carcinoma and the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The cytologic and histologic characteristics are described, and criteria for diagnosing the major follicular lesions are reviewed.
From the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia.

Address reprint requests to Dr LiVolsi: Dept of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 6 Founders Pavilion, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

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