The relationship between the BRAFV600E mutation in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma and clinicopathologic factors

Background: The BRAFV600E mutation, which accounts for about 60--80% papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC), has been identifiedas a prognostic marker for risk stratification of PTC patients. However, the BRAFV600E mutation as a prognostic marker in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is unclear. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 101 patients who underwent surgery for PTMC. We studied the prevalence of the BRAFV600E mutation. The associations between the BRAFV600E mutation and clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. Results: The BRAFV600E mutation was observed in 72 patients (71.3%). There was no statistically significant correlation in age, gender, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis, and lymph node metastasis between the BRAFV600E mutant group and wild group. Conclusions: The BRAFV600E mutation is not significantly associated with prognostic factors in PTMC.

via World Journal of Surgical Oncology