Expression of braf mutation in thyroid neoplasms

The thyroid gland is situated anterior to trachea in lower part of the neck. It consists of right and left lobe connected across the median plane by isthmus. The thyroid parenchyma is composed of lobules of thyroid follicles with intervening thin fibrous tissue septae.Each follicle consists of central core of colloid surrounded by single layer of follicular epithelial cells. The parafollicular ‘C’ cells are located at the periphery of the follicles in small groups or as single cells. [1] The main function of thyroid gland is production of thyroid hormones T3 and T4 which regulates the cellular metabolism, oxygen consumption and protein synthesis. The parafollicular cells secrete calcitonin which in turn regulates the calcium level in the plasma by a feedback mechanism [1]. Thyroid neoplasms account for 1% of all malignancies and it is the most common among all endocrine malignancies [2].Environmental and genetic factors play a major role in thyroid neoplasms due to the dependence on iodine for hormone production. This organ is also vulnerable to the genotoxic effects of radioactive iodine and to the non-genotoxic effects caused by iodine deficiency [3], thereby resulting in neoplastic lesions Angela, Agustin, manuel, Jonas, Jose Antonio, Jose Cameselle et al.BRAF mutation associated with other genetic events identifies a subset of aggressive Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.Clinical Endocrinology.2008;68:618-634. 41. Adebowale J.Adeniran ,Zhaowen, Manoj Gandhi, David L,James , Thomas et al.Correlation between genetic alterations and microscopic features,clinical manifestations and prognostic characteristics of thyroid papillary carcinomas.Am J Surg Pathol.2006;30:216-222. 42. Consolidated Report of Hospital Based Cancer registries 2001-2003. National Cancer Registry Programme .Indian Council of Medical Research. New Delhi. April 2007. 43. Pandiarajan, Yuvaraja S. A descriptive study of papillary thyroid carcinoma in a teaching hospital in Chennai, India. Asian journal of surgery Oct 2002; 25 (4):300-303. 44. Paula Soares, Vitor Trovisco, Ana Sofia, Jorge, Patricia, Ana Preto. BRAF mutations and RET/PTC rearrangements are alternative events in the etiopathogenesis of PTC.Oncogene (2003) 22, 4578–4580