Thyroid fine needle aspiration, the Bethesda System and the BRAFV600E mutation in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. Association and prediction for biopsy.

Our study found no association between cytomorphological signs of thyroid FNA and BRAFV600E mutation. Considering the Bethesda System, there is an association (p=0.045) with numerous cases of mutated PTC in categories V and VI. Our results indicate, however, that the presence of signs referred to as "non-follicular", "non-round nuclei" and "non clear chromatin" in biopsy of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma is predictive of BRAF type mutation, whereas follicular signs indicate a RAS type PTC, according to published literature. These results need to be confirmed or modified by further research.