Product Description
Galectin-3 shows strong diffuse cytoplasmic staining in most cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), including the classical and follicular variant (1). Follicular carcinomas with minimal and extensive invasion may also express galectin-3 (2). Most poorly differentiated thyroid cancers demonstrate galectin-3 protein expression while it is not expressed in anaplastic thyroid cancers (3,4). Medullary thyroid carcinomas have shown variable expression of galectin-3 in approximately 50% of cases (4). Galectin-3 is less often detected in follicular thyroid adenomas (0%–37.5%; mean, 21%) (5). Hyperplastic nodules, nodular goiters, and normal follicular epithelium usually show absence of galectin-3 (1-5). Expression of galectin-3 may aid to differentiate malignant from benign thyroid tumors, helping to diagnosis thyroid neoplasms with equivocal morphological features (4-5).