Analysis of Association Between Basic and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients with BRAF Mutation

Abstract

Introduction: The  prognosis  of  papillary  thyroid  carcinoma  (PTC)  depends on the patient's age, gender, tumor size, histological findings,  extrathyroidal  extension,  lymph  node  metastasis,  and  distant  metastasis. Genetic mutations, particularly BRAF (V600E), contribute  to metastatic risk factors. Methodology: This  prospective  cohort  study  was  carried  out  at  the  National  Institute  of  Nuclear  Medicine  and  Allied  Sciences  (NINMAS). A total of 63 patients with PTC after thyroidectomy who  were referred to NINMAS for RAIA were included in this study. All the  necessary information was collected regarding patients (age, sex) and  tumors (size, focality, lymph node involvement, extra-thyroid invasion,  distant metastases,  staging,  and  grading). Clinical  staging  of  thyroid  cancer was classified according  to  the  tumor-node-metastasis  (TNM)  classification of the AJCC 8th edition, 2018. All of them were tested for  the  BRAF  (V600E)  mutation. Any  association  between  aggressive  presentation and BRAF-positive PTC patients was observed. Results: A total of 63 patients, male 25 (39.7%) and female 38 (60.3%),  were  included  in  this  study. Among  them,  23  (36.51%)  were  BRAF  (V600E)  positive,  and  40  (63.49%)  were  negative.  Extrathyroidal  extension, lymphovascular invasion, capsular margin involvement, and  larger tumor size were significantly associated with the BRAF mutation.  No significant association was found with age, histological type, lymph  node involvement, multifocality, tumor staging, or grading. Conclusion: The  study  suggests  that patients with a positive BRAF  mutation may benefit from more intensive management and frequent  follow-up for aggressive presentation and larger tumor size.

Bangladesh J. Nuclear Med. 26(2): 119-123, 2023