Thoughtful Response on “MRI-based Texture Analysis for Preoperative Prediction of BRAF V600E Mutation in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma” [Letter]

It was clearly stated and done in the experimental works of Zheng et al, that the BRAF gene mutation was confirmed by sequencing which was performed before MRI-based texture analysis. The inclusion criteria of the samples used in this study regarding the detection of BRAF V600E mutation detected by AB Diagnostic kit, which is based on the amplification-resisted mutation system (ARMS) real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, then confirmed by sequencing was questionable. In this study, the samples used were originally grouped based on their characteristics, BRAF V600E mutant (72.5%) and wild-type (27.5%). The question addressed here is regarding the conclusion taken in the study. It was mentioned that MRI-based texture analysis could be a potential method for predicting BRAF V600E mutation in PTC preoperatively in the conclusion section. However, based on the data, the mutation in the BRAF gene was clearly not predicted by MRI. Nevertheless, we do agree that the relationship of MRI-structure-based analysis and BRAF V600E mutation was likely worth studying even further in order to improve the potential pretreatment medication needed detected by MRI-based prediction in patients with cancer or carcinoma such as PTC.6,7