Objective: To study the relationship between BRAF mutation and clinicopathological features in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).
Methods: Fresh samples were examined for the presence of BRAF mutations in 43 patients with PTC and 20 patients with non-PTC thyroid disease and 40 normal thyroid tissues by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. The relationship between BRAF mutation and clinicopathological features was studied.
Results: BRAF mutation was detected in 39.5% (17/43) of PTC samples, in 0 of non-PTC thyroid disease samples and normal thyroid tissues. Significant association was seen between BRAF mutation and both extrathyroidal invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis (P<0.05, P<0.05). There was no significant relationship between BRAF mutation and gender, age at the time of diagnosis, tumor size and distant metastasis.
Conclusion: BRAF mutation is associated with extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis. It may increase the ability of invasion and metastasis of PTC and have influence on prognosis.