Detection of BRAF mutation on fine needle aspiration biopsy specimens: diagnostic and clinical implications for papillary thyroid cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To detect the BRAF mutation on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).


METHODS
Eight fresh FNAB specimens and 10 patients' FNAB slides with cytologic examination were examined for the presence of BRAF V600E mutation by direct DNA sequencing.


RESULTS
Genomic DNA was all successfully extracted from both fresh FNAB specimens and patients' FNAB slides. Moreover, BRAF V600E mutation was detected in 2 of 8 fresh FNAB specimens and 6 of 10 patients' FNAB slides.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrated for the first time that it is feasible to detect a BRAF mutation from a small number of fresh FNAB specimens or slides in China, suggesting that detection of BRAF mutation on FNAB samples is useful not only for preoperative diagnosis of PTC but also for accurate pathologic diagnosis and prognosis.
Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, China.
Feifei
F
Guo
Peng
P
Hou
Bingyin
B
Shi
D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf