Solid Cell Nests of the Thyroid Gland

Abstract

In order to establish the prevalence of solid cell nests (SCN) in adult thyroids, we studied 100 consecutive glands at necropsy. These were serially sectioned and stained with routine and immunoperoxidase techniques in order to detect calcitonin, carcinoembryonic antigen, thyroglobulin and keratin. SCN may be considered as normal thyroid gland components, and they share with C cells a common origin in the ultimobranchial body.