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Updated: Aug 18, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Molecular Biomarker Testing for Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: September 8, 2023
Molecular testing in fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules
Valarie McMurtry1,2, Sule Canberk3,4,5, Georgios Deftereos1,2
1Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Background:
Thyroid nodules are commonly faced by clinicians as palpable nodules or incidentally identified on imaging. Nodules that are found to be suspicious by imaging can be biopsied by fine needle aspiration, which can yield material for molecular testing to refine the diagnosis.
Methods:
The current literature concerning molecular testing in thyroid nodules including available commercial assays was reviewed and summarized.
Results/Conclusions:
Commonly encountered alterations include mutations in RAS, BRAF, TERT promoter, PTEN, and DICER1 as well as fusions of RET, ALK, PAX8-PPARγ, and NTRK. This article provides a summary of these molecular alterations, commercially available molecular assays, and general considerations for thyroid epithelial malignancies and benign thyroid nodules.
