Evaluation of thyroid lesions by the bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid swellings are one of the most commonly encountered lesions with most of the thyroid swellings being benign. The cancerous lesions of the thyroid also present as nodules or masses and pose a diagnostic challenge. The thyroid cytology reporting system has been inconsistent with the use of various terminologies. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) was introduced in 2007 to bring about uniformity in reporting of thyroid lesions. Aim: This study aimed to compare conventional reporting with TBSRTC. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was done in which 6 years of data were retrieved. Cytology slides were reviewed and categorized as per the TBSRTC and compared with other studies. Results: There were numerous categories in the conventional thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology reporting system which has been reduced to six categories in TBSRTC. TBSRTC has also streamlined the reporting removing the confusion among cytologists and clinicians. Conclusion: TBSRTC is consistent and reproducible and should be used as a standard method of reporting.

Keywords

• conventional reporting
• the bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology
• thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology