These two properties are frequently observed in the case of a papillary carcinoma. Focal lymphocytic thyroiditis has limited significance in the diagnosis, moreover the presence of lymphocytes may cause even diffferential diagnostic problems.
If oxyphilic metaplasia is present in only a few cells, it has no significance. On the other hand, if great proportion of thyrocytes exhibits this sign, the diagnosis of a papillary carcinoma may be more difficult, because the specificity of inclusions and grooves is limited in oxyphilic cells.