title: Associations of the BRAF(V600E) mutation with sonographic features and clinicopathologic characteristics in a large population with conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association of the BRAF(V600E) mutation with sonographic features and clinicopathologic characteristics in a large population with conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the sonographic features, clinicopathologic characteristics, and presence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation in 688 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for conventional PTC between January and July 2010 at a single institution. The incidence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation was calculated. The sonographic features and clinicopathologic characteristics were compared between BRAF-positive and BRAF-negative patients. BRAF-positive patients were subdivided into those with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (the PTMC group) and those with PTC larger than 10 mm (the PTC>10 mm group), and their sonographic features were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BRAF(V600E) mutation was detected in 69.2% of patients (476 of 688). Sonographic features were not significantly different between BRAF-positive and BRAF-negative PTC, nor between PTMC and PTC>10 mm groups. The BRAF(V600E) mutation was associated with male sex (P = 0.028), large tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, central and lateral lymph node metastasis, and advanced tumor stage (P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BRAF(V600E)mutation was significantly associated with several poor clinicopathologic characteristics, but was not associated with sonographic features, regardless of tumor size. We recommend that patients with a thyroid nodule with any suspicious sonographic feature undergo preoperative BRAF(V600E) testing for risk stratification and to guide the initial surgical approach in PTC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ah Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Youk
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Radiology, Soonchunghyang University Hospital, Soonchunghyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Thyroid Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Cheong Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Thyroid Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hang Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D047368:Tumor Burden; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf