Twenty-nine thyroid tissue samples were collected from patients with thyroid nodules.The total RNA were extracted,the gene expressions of TFF3,HMGA2,C1orf24,and DDIT3 were detected by RT-PCR.In comparison with normal thyroid tissues,the expression of C1orf24 mRNA was decreased in the follicular thyroid adenoma (FTA) group,but increased in the follicular thyroid carcinomas (FTC) group.The expressions of DDIT3 and HMGA2 mRNA were increased in both FTA and FTC groups,and were even higher in the latter.The expressions of TFF3 mRNA level were decreased in FTA and FTC.The data suggested that molecular markers C1ort24,DDIT3,HMGA2,and TFF3 in thyroid tissue seem to be helpful in the differential diagnosis between follicular adenomas and carcinomas.