Clinicopathological characteristics and diagnostic accuracy of BRAF mutations in ameloblastoma: A Bayesian network analysis

Abstract

Objective

This Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to analyze the associations between clinicopathological characteristics and BRAF mutations in ameloblastoma (AM) patients and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy.

Materials and Methods

Four electronic databases were searched from 2010 to 2024. The search terms used were specific to BRAF and AM. Observational studies or randomized controlled trials were considered eligible. The incidence of BRAF mutation and corresponding clinicopathological features in AM patients were subjected to Bayesian network analyses and diagnostic accuracy evaluation.

Results

A total of 937 AM patients from 20 studies were included. The pooled prevalence of BRAF mutations in AM patients was 72%. According to the Bayesian network analysis, BRAF mutations are more likely to occur in younger (odds ratio [OR], 2.3; credible interval [CrI]: 1.2–4.5), mandible site (OR, 3.6; 95% CrI: 2.7–5.2), and unicystic (OR, 1.6; 95% CrI: 1.1–2.4) AM patients. Similarly, higher diagnostic accuracy was found in the younger, mandible, and unicystic AM groups.

Conclusions

The incidence, risk, and diagnostic accuracy of BRAF mutation in AM were greater in younger patients, those with mandible involvement, and those with unicystic AM than in patients with other clinicopathological features. In addition, there was a strong concordance in the diagnostic accuracy between molecular tests and immunohistochemical analysis.