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Diagnostic Value of BRAFV600E Mutation Analysis of Thyroid Nodules According to Ultrasonographic Features and the Time of Aspiration

  • Head and Neck Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

We investigated the diagnostic value of the BRAFV600E mutation of thyroid nodules according to ultrasonography (US) features and the time of BRAFV600E mutation analysis.

Methods

A total of 304 nodules in 295 patients (mean age, 49.4 years) were included. Thyroid nodules were classified as suspicious or probably benign on US. Group 1 (n = 168) included nodules with BRAFV600E mutation analysis at the time of the initial US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) and group 2 (n = 136) included nodules with analysis at the time of the repeat US-FNAB. The frequency of malignancy and the BRAFV600E mutation were compared between suspicious and probably benign nodules on US and between groups 1 and 2.

Results

Of 304 nodules, 113 were malignant and 59 (52.2%) had the BRAFV600E mutation. Also, 58 of 196 nodules suspicious on US (29.6%) had the BRAFV600E mutation, whereas 1 of 108 (0.9%) probably benign nodules had the BRAFV600E mutation (P value <.0001). The BRAFV600E mutation was more frequently found in nodules suspicious on US than those probably benign in both groups 1 and 2 (P value <.0001 and .0058, respectively). Preoperative detection of the BRAFV600E mutation led surgeons to perform surgery in 5.8% of 103 nodules with benign and nondiagnostic results on cytology in group 1 and 1% of 98 nodules in group 2 without treatment delay.

Conclusions

The BRAFV600E mutation analysis was a useful adjunctive diagnostic tool, especially in nodules suspicious on US, and was more effective if performed at the time of the initial US-FNAB.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by a faculty research grant from Yonsei University College of Medicine for 2009 (No. 6-2009-0096).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Hee Jung Moon MD, Eun-Kyung Kim MD, Jung Hyun Yoon MD & Jin Young Kwak MD

  2. Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Woong Youn Chung MD

  3. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Jong Rak Choi MD

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  1. Hee Jung Moon MD
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Correspondence to Jin Young Kwak MD.

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Moon, H.J., Kim, EK., Chung, W.Y. et al. Diagnostic Value of BRAFV600E Mutation Analysis of Thyroid Nodules According to Ultrasonographic Features and the Time of Aspiration. Ann Surg Oncol 18, 792–799 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-010-1354-z

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