IntroductionThe search for a specific marker that could help to distinguish between differentiated thyroid carcinoma and benign lesions remains elusive in clinical practice. Heparanase (HPSE) is an endo-beta-glucoronidase implicated in the process of tumor invasion, and the heparanase-2 (HPSE2) modulates HPSE activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of heparanases in the development and differential diagnosis of follicular pattern thyroid lesions.MethodsHPSE and HPSE2 expression by qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry evaluation, western blot analysis and HPSE enzymatic activity were evaluated.ResultsThe expression of heparanases by qRT-PCR showed an increase of HPSE2 in thyroid carcinoma (P = 0.001). HPSE activity was found to be higher in the malignant neoplasms than in the benign tumors (P<0.0001). On Western blot analysis, HPSE2 isoforms were detected only in malignant tumors. The immunohistochemical assay allowed us to establish a distinct pattern for malignant and benign tumors. Carcinomas showed a typical combination of positive labeling for neoplastic cells and negative immunostaining in colloid, when compared to benign tumors (P<0.0001). The proposed diagnostic test presents sensitivity and negative predictive value of around 100%, showing itself to be an accurate test for distinguishing between malignant and benign lesions.ConclusionsThis study shows, for the first time, a distinct profile of HPSE expression in thyroid carcinoma suggesting its role in carcinogenesis.

The solitary fibrous tumour is an uncommon neoplasm of mesenchymal origin. It occasionally develops in extra pleural locations, and is very infrequent in the pancreas. A 40-year-old woman had an unsuspected solitary fibrous tumour detected by chance in the body of the pancreas. Detection of the mass occurred with imaging studies. CT and MRI images showed the well-circumscribed benign lesion, with 3 cm on its greatest diameter. Treatment consisted of partial pancreatectomy, and her postoperative recovery was uneventful.

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