The Increase in Thyroid Cancer Incidence During the Last Four Decades Is Accompanied by a High Frequency of <i>BRAF</i> Mutations and a Sharp Increase in <i>RAS</i> Mutations

Abstract

Similar to US national trends, we found an increasing age at diagnosis and greater detection of smaller-sized intrathyroidal PTCs. However, the overall proportion of BRAF mutations remained stable. Sharply rising percentages of the follicular variant histology and RAS mutations after 2000 suggest new and more recent etiologic factors. The increased incidence is not likely to be due to environmental or therapeutic radiation because the percentage of RET/PTC rearrangements decreased.