RASSF1 and thyroiditis: Hypermethylation of RASSF1A, a known tumor suppressor gene, has been described in 75% (9 of 12) of follicular thyroid cancers as well as in a smaller percentage of benign adenomas (44%), and papillary thyroid cancers (20%) [14] indicating that this may be an early step in follicular cell derived thyroid tumorigenesis.