FNAC of Thyroid Lesions Based on Bethesda System: A Retrospective Cytological Study in a Tertiary Care Centre in North India

Abstract

Introduction: FNAC of thyroid lesions based on the Bethesda system, a six-category scheme represents a major step towards a uniform reporting system for thyroid.
Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency rates of diagnostic categories of Bethesda system and to assess its accuracy when compared with histopathological diagnosis, wherever available and comparison of results with previous studies.
Material and Methods: This is a 1-year retrospective study of 150 patients with thyroid swelling from June 2019 to July 2020, conducted in the Cytology Section of the Department of Pathology, Govt. Medical College, Jammu.
Results: Out of total 150 patients the maximum number of cases i.e., 127 were benign (Category 2) followed by 10 cases as Non-diagnostic (Category 1), 5 cases as malignant (Category 6), 4 cases were of suspicious for follicular neoplasm (Category 4) and 2 cases each of Category 3 and Category 5. Colloid Goitre cases were 90 followed by 27 cases of Lymphocytic Thyroiditis. In Category 6 i.e., Malignant, 3 cases were of Papillary Carcinoma. Histopathological diagnosis was available in 21 cases only and all the malignant diagnosis given on cytology were malignant on histopathology also.
Conclusion: FNAC is rapid, simple, and safe diagnostic modality used as an excellent first line method for investigating the nature of lesion. Bethesda for thyroid is a simplified and standardized system, which provides better communication between cytopathologist and clinicians for better patient management protocol.