Figure 1

Median mRNA expression levels of the candidate marker genes in groups of 61 benign and 44 malignant thyroid nodules represented by box plots. The relative quantity (RQ) of each marker gene in each sample was calculated using 2^-ΔCT method and normalised by using normalisation factor obtained by analysis of the two most stable reference genes (RQ = (2^-ΔCT)/NF). Boxes represent the 25^th and 75^th percentiles; whiskers represent the minimum and maximum values. Statistical significance was calculated using Mann-Whitney U test.