Objective: To analyze the association of BRAFV600E mutation with ultrasonographic (US) features and clinicopathologic characteristics in Chinese patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).
Methods and materials: We retrospectively reviewed 116 consecutive Chinese patients with PTMC diagnosed by postoperative pathology. The incidence of the BRAFV600E mutation was calculated. The US features and clinicopathologic characteristics were compared between BRAF-positive and BRAF-negative patients.
Results: The BRAFV600E mutation was detected in 60.3% of patients (70 of 116). Multifocality (OR: 3.681, P = 0.031), non-parallel orientation (OR: 3.181, P = 0.041) and lymph node metastasis (OR: 4.615, P = 0.009) were significantly associated with BRAFV600E mutation. Other US and clinicopathologic characteristics were not significantly related to the presence of BRAF mutation.
Conclusion: Multifocality, non-parallel orientation and cervical lymph node metastasis are risk factors for BRAFV600E mutation in PTMC. These factors potentially guide treatment planning or prognosis evaluation.
Keywords: BRAFV600E mutation; clinicopathologic characteristics; papillary thyroid microcarcinoma; ultrasonographic features.