Endocrine Abstracts

Background: If the prognosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC) is favorable, when the central lymph node metastasis is suspected with active surveillance without surgery, it is advisable to comteplate surgery. Therefore, this study investigate the gene mutations involved in central lymph node metatstasis in papillary microcarcinoma.

Methods: DNA was obtained from the primary tumor tissues of of 36 PTMC with those of central neck lymph nodes metastasis and 29 PTMC without central neck lymph nodes. We compared whole exome sequencing profiles of two groups.

Results: BRAF mutations were identified 26(72.2%) of 36 PTMC with central neck lymph nodes metastasis. 15(51.7%) of 29 PTMC without central neck lymph nodes metastasis had BRAF mutations, and this results does not have statistical significance(P> 0.05). However, TERT-promoter mutations were identified in 31(86.1%) of 36 PTMC with neck lymph nodes metastasis and this results showed statistical significance(P < 0.05) comparing with 7(24.1%) of 29 PTMC without neck lymph nodes metastasis.

Conclusion: TERT-promoter mutations have significant relations with lymph nodes metastasis in PTMC. If we obtain the identification of TERT-promoter mutations through cytology, a more precise treatment can be established.