Table 1. Common genetic alterations in differentiated thyroid cancers and their associated characteristics.

Gene(s)	Type	Frequency	Approximate risk of malignancy	Associated features	References
BRAFV600E	Point mutation	40–45% of PTCs; 60–70% of cPTCs	100%	Classical variant PTC, aggressive features	(19,20,25-27)
RAS	Varied mutations	<5% of all thyroid nodules	82%	Follicular neoplasms, possibly less aggressive features	(18,22,23,29,30)
RET/PTC	Translocation	5–40% of PTCs	87%	Classical and solid variant PTC, radiation exposure	(27,31-41)
PAX8/PPARγ	Translocation	30–35% of FTCs	71–100%	Follicular neoplasms	(14-17,21,42-44)

Approximate risk of malignancy based on positive predictive values (PPV) reported either in a recent meta-analysis (RAS and RET/PTC) (34), or in individual studies (BRAF^V600E and PAX8/PPARγ) (14,15,19,20,27). PTCs, papillary thyroid cancers; cPTCs, classical variant PTCs.