Table 2.

RET Activation and Clonality in Thyroid Nodules with Minimal or Incomplete Evidence of Papillary Carcinoma

Case	Diagnostic category†	Thyroid nodule type	Thyroid nodule size	RET(TK) immunoreactive foci	RET/PTC1-3 rearrangement in areas with PTC-NC‡	RET/PTC1-3 rearrangement in areas without PTC-NC	Clonality (HUMARA gene assay)
1	A	Hyperplastic	3.5	Yes	RET/PTC1	No	MC¶
2	D	Hyperplastic	2.0	Yes	RET/PTC3	No	MC
3	A	Hyperplastic	2.0	Yes	RET/PTC1	No	PC∥
4*	D	Adenomatous	4.0	Yes	RET/PTC3	No	ND**
5	A	Adenomatous	2.5	Yes	RET/PTC1	No	PC
6*	D	Adenomatous	2.5	Yes	No	No	PC
7	D	Adenomatous	2.5	Yes	No	No	PC
8	D	Adenomatous	3.5	Yes	ND§	ND	PC
9	D	Hyperplastic	2.0	Yes	ND	ND	PC

*Cases negative for codons 12, 13, and 61 mutations of K-, H-, N-Ras after PCR/SSCP.

^†The diagnostic categories (same as in Figure 2 ▶ ) are: A, focal, well-developed PTC-NC; B, focal, well-developed PTC-NC, rest of the nodule with poorly developed PTC-NC; C, widespread, well-developed PTC-NC; D, widespread, poorly developed PTC-NC.

^‡PTC-NC, papillary thyroid carcinoma-type nuclear changes.

^§ND, not done (lack of RNA suitable for RT-PCR).

^¶MC, monoclonal.

^∥PC, polyclonal.

**Male patient.