Determining the Prevalence of RET/PTC Mutation in Cases Where Thyroid Nodules in American Thyroid Association (ATA) Ultrasonography (USG) Guidance According to Risk Category is Determined and investigating the Relation of Malignancy

Abstract OBJECTIVE RET/PTC in FNA (Fine needle aspiration) biopsy smears could improve the FNA diagnosis. The aim of study determining the prevalence of RET/PTC mutation in cases where thyroid nodules in ATA USG according to risk catogory is determined and investigating the relation of malignancy. METHODS RNA was extracted from 60 routine FNA. RET/PTC rearrangements were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and, in parallel, RT-PCR is used to detect the chimeric RET/PTC1, RET/PTC2 and RET/PTC3 transcripts in RNA extracted from FNA. RESULTS A total of 75% FNA RET rearrangements were detected in the 20 PTC patients. RET/PTC positive was detected in 35% of cases without cancer (sensitivity 75%, specificity 65%) (p = 0,003). Significant correlation was found between A-high suspicion USG group (80%), B- intermediate suspicion USG group (45%) and C- low suspicion USG group (20%) in of RET/PTC rearrangements (p = 0.001). A significant correlation was found between the USG groups and the PTC (respectively group A,B,C: 60%, 30%, 10%)(p = 0.003). There was a statistical difference related to in the USG groups frequency between Classic type PTC (70%) and Follicular type PTC (30%)(p = 0.019). There was a statistical difference related to between RET/PTC and PTC types in the USG groups (p = 0.012). There was a statistical difference related to between usg groups tumor diameter A and C (P = 0.010). CONCLUSİON Molecular testing of FNA samples improves presurgical diagnosis. RET/PTC was found to be significantly higher in the diagnoses of the PTC with 75% sensitivity and 65% specificity