Expression of the RET/PTC fusion gene as a marker for papillary carcinoma in Hashimoto's thyroiditis..     ///    "Using a sensitive and specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, we found messenger RNA (mRNA) expression for the RET/PTC1 and RET/PTC3 oncogenes in 95% of the Hashimoto's patients studied. "    ///    The newly identified oncogenes RET/PTC1 and RET/PTC3 provide useful and specific markers of the early stages of papillary carcinoma as they are highly specific for malignant cells. 