INCLUSIONS IN HUMAN THYROID

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 122  (SEP) , 77-89
Abstract
A survey of the thyroids of 350 infants and children suggests that the presence of thymus and parathyroid tissue within the thyroid is so common as to be classified as normal. One in 100 thyroids contains masses of cartilage, and 1 in 100 shows small foci of ciliated epithelium. Compact masses of dark-staining cells resembling primitive follicular plate cells are also so common as to raise the possibility of their being a normal component with, possibly, an endocrine function. They probably produce calcitonin, but this could not be confirmed. Peculiar granular cells replacing follicle cells were also noticed.