Associations of the BRAF V600E mutation with sonographic features in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the association of the BRAF V600E mutation with sonographic features in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods A consecutive series of 61 papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) was evaluated by US and elastography before US-FNA, BRAF V600E mutation and surgery.The PTCs were categorized into 2 groups according to the results of the BRAF V600E mutation, BRAF-positive and BRAF-negative patients. The sonographic features were compared between BRAF-positive and BRAF-negative patients. Results The BRAF V600E mutation was detected in 82% of patients (50 of 61). There were no significant difference between BRAF-positive and BRAF-negative PTC on sonographic features including the nodular size, echogenicity, shape, margin, calcification and the pattern of blood flow.However the prevalence of PTC with a score higher than 4 on the Hong et al score was 72% (36/50) in the BRAF-positive group, significantly higher than 36.4%(4/11) in the BRAF-negative group(P=0.024). A score higher than 4 correlated highly with a BRAF-positive diagnosis (sensitivity 72.0%, specificity 63.6%, positive predictive value 90.0%, negative predictive value 33.3%, accuracy 70.5% and OR 4.5). Conclusions The BRAF V600E mutation was significantly associated with elastography classification, a score higher than 4 on the Hong et al score could highly predict the occurrence of BRAF V600E mutation in papillary thyroid cancer. Key words: Ultrasonography; Thyroid neoplasms; Biopsy, fine-needle; BRAF V600E mutation