Objective:

To investigate the application value of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) combined with BRAF mutation detection in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

Methods:

A total of 87 patients who were diagnosed as suspicious malignant thyroid nodules by ultrasonic examination from June 2014 to June 2015 were selected. All the patients underwent FNAC and BRAF mutat

ion detection by fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results:

Among 64 malignant cases

48 cases were positive and 16 cases were negative for FNAC

and 40 cases had BRAF

V600E

mutation. Among 23 benign cases

5 cases were positive and 18 cases were negative for FNAC

and no case had BRAF

V600E

mutation. Compared with the postoperative pathological results

the sensitivity was 75.0%

the specificity was 78.3%

and the accuracy was 75.9% for FNAC. The sensitivity of BRAF mutation detection was 62.5%

the specificity was 100.0%

and the accuracy was 72.4%. The sensitivity was 89.1%

the specificity was 78.3%

and the accuracy was 86.2% for FNAC combined with BRAF

V600E

mutation detection.

Conclusion:

FNAC combined with BRAF

V600E

mutation detection can improve the sensitivity of diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules.