Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39315563›Full record

ArticleHistopathology2025

Characterisation of Kürsteiner canals of parathyroid: imparting relevance to a one-and-a-quarter-century-old concept.

Haley Corbin, Linwah Yip, Sally E Carty, Miguel Reyes-Múgica, Raja R Seethala

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Histopathology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Perspectives on the Parathyroid-Thymus Interconnection-A Literature Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Haley CorbinDepartment of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0079-4459
Linwah YipDepartment of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2449-3685
Sally E CartyDepartment of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8288-3884
Miguel Reyes-MúgicaDepartment of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5698-3702
Raja R SeethalaDepartment of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3617-075X

Funding

VECTOR CORE FACILITYP30CA047904 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI Jessie Nedrow · 1988 to 2026
$158.0M
University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science InstituteUL1TR001857 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI REIS, STEVEN E · 2016 to 2025
$129.3M
Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute at the University of Pittsburgh UL1-TR-001857NCI NIH HHS P30 CA047904University of Pittsburgh Developmental LaboratoryUPMC/Pitt Department of Pathology Internal GrantUPMC Trainee Research Advancement Award
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsKürsteiner canals (KC) were described at least 125 years ago as pharyngeal pouch embryological remnants of parathyroid and thymic development. While considered precursors for a subset of parathyroid cysts and salivary heterotopias (SH), they remain enigmatic. We now define a comprehensive phenotype of KC remnants and investigate their role in a spectrum of parathyroid lesions. METHODS AND

results`Sixty-two cystic and 22 non-cystic parathyroid lesions (73 patients) were retrieved from our institutional archive (2011-23) and evaluated for the presence of KC and prevalence of KC phenotype in parathyroid hormone (PTH)-positive and PTH-negative cysts. KC phenotype was defined as: cysts and tubules with surrounding sclerosis; bland, unilayered lining with frequent nuclear indentation of lumina; vesicular chromatin relative to chief cells; attenuated eosinophilic to 'hyper-cleared' cytoplasm; and staining pattern PTH-negative, SOX-10-positive, CK7-positive, GATA-3-positive and PAX-9 dim, a subset with oestrogen/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) positivity. Thirty PTH-negative cysts were identified in the neck/mediastinum; 14 of this group also showed SH. Thirty-two PTH-positive cysts included: 11 cystic parathyroid adenomas, 17 hyperplastic parathyroids, and four carcinomas. KC showed two distinct subtypes and were often found near PTH-negative cysts. PTH-negative cysts were associated with inferior parathyroids, SOX-10 positivity, fibrosclerosis, vesicular nuclei indenting cyst lumina and hyper-cleared or attenuated eosinophilic cytoplasm.

conclusionsKC are common in parathyroids and show a distinct histological and immunohistochemical profile, with an inferior predilection favouring branchial cleft III distribution. Diagnostically, the high prevalence of this phenotype in PTH-negative cysts and salivary heterotopia supports derivation of non-functioning cysts from KC. Conversely, PTH-positive cysts are more compatible with cystic change within hyperfunctioning glands.

Indexed as

Parathyroid GlandsAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overChoristomaCystsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedParathyroid DiseasesParathyroid NeoplasmsYoung AdultcystKürsteiner canalsparathyroidsalivary heterotopia

Identifiers

PMID39315563
PMCPMC11707492

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.