Use of molecular markers in samples obtained from preoperative aspiration of thyroid

Abstract

Several experiments have been carried out in order to fnd molecular markers that increase the diagnose accuracy of the Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA), especially for thyroid lesions of undetermined signifcance. The growing number of published experiments on one or more of the different types of markers has started to justify the need to gather the pieces of information as a way to add evidence and guide the development of future research in the area. From the search arguments and criteria previously defned, 95 articles were selected from the electronic databases PUBMED, MEDLINE, SCOPUS and LILACS. From the 36 markers submitted to analysis and identifed in preoperative FNA thyroid samples, only 10 (GAL3, CK-19, HBME-1, TPO, CD44, Telomerase, DAP IV, RAS, RET and BRAF) were assessed in more than two investigations, be it either in panel or individually. The minimum, medium and maximum values of sensibility, specifcity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnose accuracy were obtained from the group of investigation, as well as the limitations and advantages of the use of each marker were identifed. The BRAF mutation, for its unquestionable specifcity, and the GAL3, for its regularity of average results obtained here, found in several locations in the cell as well as out of the cell, suggesting multiple functions of this molecule, were observed as holders of more expressive evidence in the effort of reducing the uncertainty of the diagnose in preoperative FNA of thyroid. © The Japan Endocrine Society.