Evaluation of Parallel Diagnostic Test Combining BRAF V600E Mutation with TI-RADS on Thyroid Nodules

Jingjun Su, Chanjuan Zeng, Chunlei Fan, Zhibin Li and Guoqiang Su

Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
Department of Surgical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
Epidemiology Research Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China

^*Correspondance to: Guoqiang Su 

 PDF  Full Text Research Article | Open Access

Abstract:

Aim: To evaluate the parallel test combining BRAF V600E mutation test with thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) for diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules on Chinese patients.Methods: A retrospective study of 131 consecutive patients with thyroid nodule diseases who underwent thyroid ultrasonography and BRAF V600E mutation tests was conducted in Xiamen, China. For the parallel test, nodules which were considered as malignant by either the TI-RADS classifications or the BRAF V600E mutation tests were all diagnosed as malignant.Results: Of the 131 nodules, 44 (33.6%) were diagnosed as malignant, and malignant nodules were significantly more likely to be hypoechoic, irregular in shape, edge disjoint on edge, unclear along boundaries, micro calcifications and companied with abnormal lymph nodes when compared with benign lymph nodes. The proportions of higher TI-RADS grades and positive BRAF V600E mutation were significantly increased in malignant nodules than benign nodules (both p-values <0.05). Area under the curves with 95% confidence interval of receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.798 (0.719-0.877; p<0.001) for the TI-RADS classification, 0.846 (0.764-0.928; p<0.001) for BRAF V600E mutation, and 0.810 (0.738-0.883; p<0.001) for the parallel test, but differences on them were not statistically significant. Compared with the TI-RADS classification system and BRAF V600E mutation test alone, parallel test showed significantly higher sensitivity and negative predictive value; BRAF V600E mutation test showed significantly higher specificity and positive predictive value than the other two methods.Conclusion: TI-RADS classification and BRAF V600E mutation test are both effective methods for diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules, and parallel test combining these two methods improves sensitivity and negative predictive value.

Keywords:

TI-RADS; BRAF V600E; Parallel test; Thyroid nodules

Cite the Article:

Su J, Zeng C, Fan C, Li Z, Su G. Evaluation of Parallel Diagnostic Test Combining BRAF V600E Mutation with TI-RADS on Thyroid Nodules. Clin Oncol. 2018; 3: 1553.