The relationship between the BRAF(V600E) mutation in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma and clinicopathologic factors

BACKGROUND: The BRAF(V600E) mutation, which accounts for about 60–80% papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC), has been identifiedas a prognostic marker for risk stratification of PTC patients. However, the BRAF(V600E) mutation as a prognostic marker in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is unclear. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 101 patients who underwent surgery for PTMC. We studied the prevalence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation. The associations between the BRAF(V600E) mutation and clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: The BRAF(V600E) mutation was observed in 72 patients (71.3%). There was no statistically significant correlation in age, gender, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis, and lymph node metastasis between the BRAF(V600E) mutant group and wild group. CONCLUSIONS: The BRAF(V600E) mutation is not significantly associated with prognostic factors in PTMC.