Does Addition of<i>BRAF</i>V600E Mutation Testing Modify Sensitivity or Specificity of the Afirma Gene Expression Classifier in Cytologically Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules?

Abstract

BRAF mutations are uncommon in nodules with atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance or follicular neoplasm or suspicious for follicular neoplasm cytology. Most cytologically indeterminate nodules that proved to be malignant were also BRAF-, and all nodules that were false-negative by GEC were also BRAF-. Similarly, all BRAF+ specimens were also GEC Suspicious. Neither GEC test sensitivity nor specificity was improved by addition of BRAF mutation testing.