In this study, a group of 87 thyroid tumors were analyzed to determine the involvement of the PAX8/PPAR gamma fusion gene in these tumors, and also to determine whether this rearrangement can be used as a diagnostic marker for the differentiation between follicular thyroid carcinoma and adenoma.     ///    "Our findings suggest that PAX8/PPAR gamma occurs frequently in follicular thyroid carcinomas, and the presence of this rearrangement is likely to prove highly suggestive of a malignant tumor. "    ///    Involvement of the PAX8/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma rearrangement in follicular thyroid tumors..     ///    Lack of the PAX8/PPAR gamma rearrangement in the anaplastic thyroid carcinoma group suggests that the tumorigenic pathway in these tumors is likely to be independent of this fusion.     ///    "The PAX8/PPAR gamma rearrangement was detected by RT-PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and/or Western analysis in 10 of 34 (29%) follicular thyroid carcinomas and in one of 20 (5%) atypical follicular thyroid adenomas, but not in any of the 20 follicular thyroid adenomas or 13 anaplastic thyroid carcinomas studied. "