THE BETHESDA SYSTEM FOR REPORTING THYROID CYTOPATHOLOGY: A TWO YEAR INSTITUTIONAL AUDIT

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of thyroid plays a significant crucial role in cytopathology worldwide. Thyroid FNAC is extremely useful in identifying a substantial proportion of thyroid nodules as benign and reducing unnecessary surgery for patients with benign disease. The present study was done with the aim of stratifying thyroid cytology smears by The Bethesda System For Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) into various diagnostic categories, analyze their cytological features using TBSRTC monograph, convey brief management plan to the clinicians, and correlate with histology of surgical specimens received Methods: This was a prospective study done on 600 cases of fine needle aspirations of thyroid nodules over a period of two years from July 2013 to June 2015. Results: Mean age of the patients included in the study was 36 years(11–73) and male to female ratio was 2:6. Out of total 600 cases, 40 cases were non diagnostic (Bethesda Category I), 492 cases were diagnosed as benign (Bethesda category II) and 12 were Bethesda category III while 41 cases were categorized as either malignant or suspicious for malignancy (Bethesda category V and VI). Histopathologic correlation was available in 113 cases. Conclusion: TBSRTC is an excellent reporting system for thyroid cytopathology. It also provides clear management guidelines to clinicians to go for follow up FNA or surgery and also the extent of surgery.