Hürthle cell neoplasm is a rare tumor of the thyroid, typically seen in women between the ages of 70 and 80 years old.

[1] Typically such a mass is removed because it is not easy to predict whether it will transform into the malignant counterpart of Hürthle cell carcinoma, which is a subtype of follicular thyroid cancer.

This is due to the abundant mitochondria and granular eosinophilic matter within the cells' cytoplasm.

Hürthle cells are resistant to radiation, but can be treated using radioactive iodine treatment.

Once the adenoma is detected most often the nodules removed to prevent the cells from later metastisizing.

This treatment option is used to destroy infected thyroid cells after total thyroidectomy.

[1] The first Hürthle cell adenoma was discovered by Dr James Ewing in 1928.