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Papillary thyroid carcinoma with BRAFV600E mutation: sonographic prediction
Jiyoung Hwang1, Jung Hee Shin, Boo-Kyung Han
1Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine 50, Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-710, Republic of Korea.
AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology
|April 23, 2010
Summary
Ultrasound findings like a taller-than-wide shape in papillary thyroid carcinoma are not specific enough to predict the BRAF(V600E) mutation. Further research is needed to identify reliable sonographic predictors for this common mutation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
- Genetics
Background:
- Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer.
- The BRAF(V600E) mutation is a frequent genetic alteration in PTC, associated with aggressive tumor behavior.
- Accurate prediction of BRAF(V600E) mutation status can inform treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate clinical and sonographic features for predicting the BRAF(V600E) mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
- To determine if specific ultrasound characteristics correlate with the presence of this common mutation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 135 patients with surgically confirmed papillary thyroid carcinoma.
- Ultrasound and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration performed on all patients.
- BRAF(V600E) mutation analysis using allele-specific PCR and DNA sequencing on aspiration samples.
Main Results:
- The BRAF(V600E) mutation was detected in 79% of patients.
- A taller-than-wide shape on ultrasound was observed more frequently in mutated tumors, but this was not statistically significant (p=0.055).
- The mutation was not significantly associated with calcifications, echogenicity, tumor margin, or ultrasound diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- While a taller-than-wide shape and lack of calcifications may be suggestive, they are not specific predictors of the BRAF(V600E) mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
- Current ultrasound findings are insufficient to reliably predict BRAF(V600E) mutation status.
