BRAF^V600E Mutation Analysis in Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology of Fixed Slide Specimens in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most frequent type of thyroid cancer. The BRAF^V600E mutation is associated with tumor progression. We explored the utility of the BRAF molecular testing on fine needle aspiration fixed specimens of patients with confirmed diagnoses of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Methods: Fixed thyroid cytology slide specimens of 19 patients with Bethesda II to VI reports were used to detect BRAF^V600E mutation by pyrosequencing of extracted DNA.

Results: BRAF^V600E mutation was detected in 25% of the specimens with Bethesda category III and IV nodules and in 73% of the nodules with Bethesda category V and VI.

Conclusion: BRAF mutation analysis can be performed on fixed fine needle aspiration cytology specimens. Although the frequency of the mutation is higher in specimens with higher Bethesda category scores, it could support clinical decision-making in thyroid nodules with intermediate Bethesda category scores.