ObjectiveTo investigate research advance on the value of B-type RAF kinase (BRAF) gene mutation assisted diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in thyroid nodule.MethodThe recent literatures on the BRAF gene mutation and its combination with fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules and PTC were collected and reviewed.ResultsThe BRAFV600E gene mutation was the most common type of gene mutation in the genetic molecule of PTC. The combination of the FNAC and BRAF gene mutation detection could improve the diagnostic value of the benign and malignant thyroid nodules, especially the diagnostic accuracy of PTC. However, the negative detection of BRAF gene mutation did not rule out the possibility of PTC. It still remained controversial that the detection of BRAF gene mutation could differentiate between the benign and malignant thyroid nodules.ConclusionsBRAF gene mutation detection has different diagnostic values in different types of thyroid nodules. It has considerable diagnostic value in thyroid nodules with high BRAF mutation incidence (suspicious for malignancy, undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance nodules) while presents false negative result in thyroid nodule with very low mutation incidence category to a large extent. BRAF gene detection might become a specific diagnostic molecular marker to promote diagnosis accuracy of PTC.