This pooled analysis shows that the incidences of BRAF and NRAS mutations in cutaneous melanomas differ according to histological type and tumour location based on the degree of sun exposure.

Objective: No consensus exists on the association between papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). To resolve this controversy, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the two conditions using a meta-analysis. Methods: We searched relevant published studies using citation databases including PubMed, Embase, and ISI Web of Science. The effect sizes of clinicopathologic parameters were calculated by odds ratio (OR), weighted mean difference, or hazard ratio (HR). The effect sizes were combined using a randomeffects model. Results: Thirty-eight eligible studies including 10 648 PTC cases were selected. Histologically proven HT was identified in 2471 (23.2%) PTCs. HT was more frequently observed in PTCs than in benign thyroid diseases and other carcinomas (ORZ2.8 and 2.4; P!0.001). PTCs with coexisting HT were significantly related to female patients (ORZ2.7; P!0.001), multifocal involvement (ORZ1.5; PZ0.010), no extrathyroidal extension (ORZ1.3; PZ0.002), and no lymph node metastasis (ORZ1.3; PZ0.041). Moreover, PTCs with HT were significantly associated with long recurrence-free survival (HRZ0.6; PZ0.001). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis showed that PTC is significantly associated with pathologically confirmed HT. PTC patients with HT have favorable clinicopathologic characteristics compared with PTCs without HT. However, patients with HT need to be carefully monitored for the development of PTC.

BACKGROUND. Numerous studies have investigated the clinical significance of BRAF mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, there have been conflicting data on the usefulness of BRAF mutation as a prognostic marker of PTC. To address this controversy, the frequency of the BRAF mutation and the associations between BRAF mutation and clinicopathologic parameters in PTC were evaluated by meta‐analysis. METHODS. The relevant published studies were reviewed according to the defined selection criteria. The effect sizes of outcome parameters were estimated by odds ratio or weighted mean difference. RESULTS. The current meta‐analysis included 12 studies with a total of 1168 patients. The frequency of the BRAF mutation was 49%. The BRAF mutation was associated with histologic subtype, the presence of extrathyroidal extension, and higher clinical stage, but not with age, sex, race, or tumor size. CONCLUSIONS. The effect of the BRAF mutation on the poor prognosis of PTC patients was evident from the current meta‐analysis. The detection of the BRAF mutation may be used as an important prognostic marker of patients with PTC. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.