BACKGROUND: Thyroid @entity5 incidence has dramatically increased worldwide over the last two decades. The rise is mostly due to an increased detection of small @entity3557 ( @entity3557 ) ( <=20mm), predominantly microPTC ( <=10mm). Although small @entity5 generally have an excellent outcome, a considerable percentage may have a more @entity146 and worse prognosis. The clinical challenge is to preoperatively identify those @entity5 that are more likely to recur. AIM: To improve risk stratification and @entity1 management, we sought to determine the prognostic value of @entity817 @entity8554 , @entity8497 or @entity8958 /PTC mutations in @entity1 with PTC measuring <20mm, mainly microPTC. METHODS: The prevalence of @entity8958 /PTC fusion genes was examined by quantitative RT-PCR. @entity817 @entity8554 and @entity8497 Q61 mutations were determined by PCR sequencing. To further elucidate why some small PTC are less responsive to radioactive @entity1496 treatment therapy, we explored if these genetic alterations may modulate the expression of @entity1496 metabolism genes (NIS, @entity5787 , TG, @entity5010 and @entity1480 ) and correlated with clinico-pathological findings that are predictors of recurrence. RESULTS: This study shows that @entity5 measuring  <=20mm exhibited higher prevalence of @entity817 @entity8554 mutation, which correlated with @entity146 histopathological parameters, higher risk of recurrence, and lower expression of NIS and @entity5787 . Although this correlation was not found when microPTC were evaluated, we show that @entity5 measuring 7-10mm, which were positive for @entity817 mutation, presented more @entity146 features and lower expression of NIS and @entity5787 . CONCLUSION: We believe that our findings will help to decide the realistic usefulness of @entity817 @entity8554 mutation as a preoperative marker of poor prognosis in small PTC, primarily in microPTC.

@entity817 @entity8554 and decreased NIS and @entity5787 expression are associated with XXXX of a subgroup of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity3557 :: ('MESH:C536915', 'Disease') :: ['papillary thyroid carcinomas', 'PTCs'] @entity8958 :: ('5979', 'Gene') :: ['RET'] @entity1496 :: ('MESH:D007455', 'Chemical') :: ['iodine'] @entity5787 :: ('7173', 'Gene') :: ['TPO'] @entity146 :: ('MESH:D001523', 'Disease') :: ['aggressive', 'aggressive disease'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumors', 'cancer'] @entity8554 :: ('p|SUB|V|600|E', 'ProteinMutation') :: ['V600E'] @entity8497 :: ('4893', 'Gene') :: ['NRAS'] @entity5010 :: ('7253', 'Gene') :: ['TSHR'] @entity817 :: ('673', 'Gene') :: ['BRAF'] @entity1480 :: ('MESH:C563184', 'Disease') :: ['PDS']
@entity146 :: (MESH:D001523,Disease) :: ['aggressiveness']
