Analysis of BRAFV600E Mutation and Persistence of Papillary Thyroid Cancer after Total Thyroidectomy and Routine Central Neck Dissection

Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive value of BRAF V600E mutation for the persistence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) after total thyroidectomy and routine central neck dissection. Patients and Methods We collect the clinicopathological data of 288 PTC patients with total thyroidectomy (TT) and routine central neck dissection (CND), and analyzed the relationship between BRAFV600E mutation status and the rate of elevated non-stimulated thyroglobulin (NSTg) value. And we also collect the clinicopathological data of 370 PTC patients who needed radio iodine ablation(RIA) after TT and routine CND, and analyzed the relationship between BRAFV600E mutation status and the rate of elevated stimulated Tg (STg)value before RIA. The clinicopathological data included gender, age at diagnosis, multifocality, bilaterality, tumor size, extrathyroidal invasion, and lymph node status of these patients. All the patents were diagnosis as PTC before operation by the combination with ultrasonograph and FNA (fine needle asperation). Results BRAFV600E mutation is not associated with the elevated rate of elevated Tg value after TT and routine CND. Conclusions BRAF V600E mutation is not an independent predictive factor for the persistence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) after TT and routine CND.