Galectin-3 Expression and BRAF Mutation in Cases of Cytologically Suspicious Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.
- Author:
Dokyung KIM
1
;
Hyunki KIM
;
Jinyoung KWAK
;
Minju KIM
;
Hyung Jae JUNG
;
Ja Seung KOO
;
Beom Jin LIM
;
Chankwon JUNG
;
SoonWon HONG
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. soonwonh@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Suspicious cytology;
Biopsy, fine needle;
BRAF mutation;
Galectin-3
- MeSH:
Biopsy, Fine-Needle;
Carcinoma;
Factor IX;
Galectin 3;
Phosphotransferases;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Thyroid Gland;
Thyroid Neoplasms;
Thyroid Nodule
- From:Korean Journal of Pathology
2010;44(2):191-198
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration, which is known as the most accurate and cost-effective method for diagnosis of thyroid nodule, still may result in indeterminate cases that are pauci-cellular and show minor nuclear atypia, but most cases are associated with suspicion of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). A B-type Raf kinase (BRAF) mutation was found in about half of PTCs and galectin-3 was expressed by malignant tumors, helping us to differentiate malignancies from benign lesions. METHODS: Cases studied included histologically 44 confirmed PTC cases and 18 benign cases previously diagnosed as suspicious of PTC using cytologic examination. Cases were analyzed for galectin-3 expression by immunohistochemical staining and BRAF mutation by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) with a new restriction enzyme. RESULTS: All 44 cases of PTC and 8 of 18 benign controls expressed galectin-3. BRAF mutations were found in only 9 of the 44 PTC cases. Assessment of galectin-3 expression demonstrated high sensitivity but low specificity. Evaluation of BRAF mutation revealed high specificity and low sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the combined application of these two methods for PTC of suspicious cytology is complementary.
