title: Surgical implications of B-RafV600E mutation in fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Management of patients with thyroid nodules is based on establishing an accurate diagnosis; however, differentiating benign from malignant lesions preoperatively is not always possible using current cytological techniques. Novel molecular testing on cytological material could lead to clearer treatment algorithms. B-Raf(V600E) mutation is the most common genetic alteration in thyroid cancer, specifically found in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and usually reported to be associated with aggressive disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search using PubMed identified all the pertinent literature on the identification and utilization of the B-Raf(V600E) mutation in thyroid cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The utility of using B-Raf mutation testing for nodules with indeterminate cytology is limited since many of those nodules (benign and malignant) do not harbor B-Raf mutations. However, when the pathologist sees cytological features suspicious for PTC, B-Raf(V600E) mutation analysis may enhance the assessment of preoperative risks for PTC, directing a more aggressive initial surgical management when appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Thyroid Cancer Research Laboratory, Endocrine Surgery Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mekel
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nucera
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hodin
authors.forename: Sareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parangi
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D018579:Patient Selection; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf