Abstract:Objective To study the value of the combination of ultrasound scan and BRAFV600E gene detection in differentially diagnosing benign and malignant thyroid nodules in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.Methods From September 2017 to October 2019, the 329 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and thyroid nodules were enrolled and divided into malignant group (n =177) and benign group (n =152) according to the pathological diagnosis (gold standard). The values of ultrasound scan or BRAFV600E gene detection alone and their combination in the differential diagnosis of the benign and malignant thyroid nodules in Hashimoto's thyroiditis were analyzed.Results There were 177, 167 and 163 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis with malignant thyroid nodules, and 152, 162 and 166 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis with benign thyroid nodules diagnosed with the gold standard, ultrasound scan and BRAFV600E gene mutation analysis, respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity of ultrasound scan, BRAFV600E gene mutation analysis and their combination was severally 72.31%, 65.54% and 85.31%, with the specificity being 74.34%, 69.08% and 71.71%, and the accuracy being 73.25%, 67.17% and 79.03%. In comparison with the ultrasound scan alone, the diagnostic sensitivity of ultrasound scan combined with BRAFV600E gene mutation analysis was higher (P < 0.0125), while that of BRAFV600E gene mutation analysis alone was lower (P < 0.0125). Compared with BRAFV600E gene mutation analysis alone, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound scan combined with BRAFV600E gene mutation analysis were both higher (P < 0.0125).Conclusions The ultrasound scan, BRAFV600E gene mutation analysis and their combination are all of diagnostic value in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and the combined diagnosis is superior to the diagnosis alone.