OBJECTIVE: Adequate isolation of nucleic acids from peripheral blood, fine-needle aspiration cells in stained slides, and fresh and formalin-fixed/paraffin-embedded tissues is crucial to ensure the success of molecular endocrinology techniques, especially when samples are stored for long periods, or when no other samples can be collected from patients who are lost to follow-up. Here, we evaluate several procedures to improve current methodologies for DNA (salting-out) and RNA isolation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used proteinase K treatment, heat shock, and other […]

There are an increasing number of thyroid nodules found by ultrasound and sampled by fine needle aspiration (FNA). A clinical problem is the accurate distinction between benign and malignant forms of follicular lesion. In this review we discuss the thyroid lesions that are common sources of diagnostic error, and grouped together as follicular patterned lesion, and the molecular markers identified by us and others, and that are able to distinguish the benign from the malignant ones.