No Longer Well-Differentiated: Diagnostic Criteria and Clinical Importance of Poorly Differentiated/High-Grade Thyroid Carcinoma.

Abstract

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) and differentiated high-grade thyroid carcinoma (DHGTC) are uncommon thyroid malignancies, recently (re)codified into distinct entities with overlapping clinical significance. Recognizing them may be challenging for the general practitioner and subspecialty pathologist alike. This article will describe the required features to diagnose PDTC and DHGTC, differential diagnostic considerations, molecular findings, and clinical implications. It is intended to be a general synopsis of the most critical elements of PDTC and DHGTC as well as a summary of points in approaching these challenging cases.