Histologic, Immunohistochemical, and Ultrastructural Findings in a Case of Minocycline-Associated "Black Thyroid"

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In this Subject: Internal Medicine
By this author: C David Bell ;&nbsp; Kalman Kovacs ;&nbsp; Eva Horvath ;&nbsp; Fabio Rotondo

Authors: C David Bell; Kalman Kovacs; Eva Horvath; Fabio Rotondo

Source: Endocrine Pathology, Volume 12, Number 4, December 2001 , pp. 443-452(10)

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Abstract:

We report on a 37-yr-old woman with known antemortem ingestion of minocyclin who died suddenly from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. At autopsy, her thyroid gland, although not enlarged, was diffusely black, caused by the deposition of a melanin-like pigment that stained positive with Schmorl's reagent. The pigment could be bleached with permanganate, and on examination by electron microscopy, it appeared to be deposited within the thyrocyte lysosomes. Additional immunostaining with many antibodies revealed an increase in vimentin staining in the follicular epithelium compared with normal control thyroid glands. Staining for cytoplasmic thyroglobulin was markedly reduced, despite normal thyroid indices performed on stored antemortem blood. Stainable ubiquitin in the follicular epithelium appeared reduced compared with control thyroid tissues. These immunohistochemical findings may reflect disruptions of lysosomal transport and function associated with the abnormal accumulation of pigment. This appears to be the only case of minocyclin-associated "black thyroid" in which extensive immunohistochemical investigations have been performed.

Keywords: Histology; immunohistochemistry; ultrastructure; thyroid; minocycline

Document Type: Miscellaneous

Publication date: 2001-12-01