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Modified Radical Neck Dissection for Cervical Metastasis
Published on: February 20, 2026
BRAF: a tool in the decision to perform elective neck dissection?
Simone E Dutenhefner1, Suemi Marui, Andre B O Santos
11 Institute of Cancer of the State of Sao Paulo (ICESP) , Sao Paulo, Brazil .
Thyroid : Official Journal of the American Thyroid Association
|November 29, 2012
Summary
The BRAF mutation does not predict lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Therefore, BRAF testing is not recommended for guiding prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) decisions in PTC patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) can exhibit aggressive features, with some studies linking BRAF mutations to lymph node metastasis.
- Prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) is a debated surgical approach for PTC due to potential complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate the correlation between BRAF mutation status and lymph node metastasis in PTC patients.
- To evaluate the utility of BRAF mutation testing in the decision-making process for prophylactic CND.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 51 PTC patients undergoing total thyroidectomy and prophylactic CND.
- BRAF mutation analysis was performed on all patient samples.
Main Results:
- Lymph node metastases were detected in 54.9% of patients.
- BRAF mutations were identified in 29% of patients but showed no significant correlation with lymph node metastasis.
- Multifocality and angiolymphatic invasion were significantly correlated with lymph node metastases (p=0.005 and p=0.003, respectively).
Conclusions:
- BRAF mutation status is not a reliable predictor of lymph node metastasis in PTC.
- BRAF testing should not be used to guide the decision for performing prophylactic CND in PTC management.
