The Association Among Quantitative Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography Features, Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System and BRAF V600E Mutation Status in Patients With Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the association among the thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS), quantitative parameters obtained from contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), and BRAF V600E mutation status in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

PATIENTS: From November 2016 to June 2017, 54 patients who had undergone thyroid CEUS and BRAF V600E mutation analysis for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma were enrolled in our study. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on mutation status. Sex, age, pathology results, TI-RADS score, and quantitative CEUS parameters were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS: There were 43 patients in the BRAF V600E-positive group and 11 patients in the BRAF V600E-negative group. Age and TI-RADS score were not associated with mutation status. The arrival time (17.2 ± 5.1 seconds) and time to peak enhancement (TTP) (26.5 ± 7.4 seconds) of the lesions in the BRAF V600E-positive group were longer than the arrival time (13.2 ± 3.1 seconds) and TTP (21.1 ± 4.4 seconds) of the lesions in the BRAF V600E-negative group. Basic intensity and peak intensity were not associated with mutation status.

CONCLUSIONS: There is an association between the arrival time and TTP of CEUS and BRAF V600E mutation status. They may help infer the BRAF V600E mutation status in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients before invasive procedures.