Detection of the <i>BRAF</i> ^V600E Mutation in Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Thyroid Papillary Microcarcinoma Cells Selected by Manual Macrodissection: An Easy Tool to Improve the Preoperative Diagnosis

Abstract

The analysis of BRAF mutational status in FNAC obtained from papillary microcarcinomas demonstrates that molecular pathology, combined with morphology and molecular biology is a powerful tool for cytological diagnosis of mPTC. Our results also confirm the data supporting the biological relevance of PTCs with diameters that are ≤1 cm and the importance of "manual macrodissection" in the molecular analysis of cytological material.