The Cytological Evaluation of Thyroid Lesions with Emphasis on the Bethesda System for Reporting of Thyroid Cytopathology in Correlation to Histopathology A Descriptive Study

Introduction : Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the thyroid gland is a first-line diagnostic test for the preoperative diagnosis of a solitary thyroid nodule. It is cost effective and minimally invasive technique. The 2023 Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology (TBSRTC) simplifies the system by having one name for each category. Aims : To categorize various thyroid lesions as per TBSRTC 2023 and correlate the Fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis with histopathological findings. Material and Methods: The descriptive study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital over a period of two years. Total 97 patients underwent fine needle aspiration cytology of thyroid lesions after taking detailed clinical history. The cytomorphological diagnosis was given and then subsequent biopsythyroidectomy specimens were received. Finally, cytohistopathological correlation was done. Results: Out of total 97 cases of thyroid lesions, 7 cases (7.21) were reported as category I, 71 cases (73.19) as category II as benign lesions, 2.06 as category III, 8.24 cases as category IV, 5.15 as category V, 4.12 as category VI as malignant. Majority of cases were in 31-40 years of age group. Only 63 cases were available for histopathological examination. Conclusion: The correlation between Bethesda System-guided cytology and histopathology elucidates the refinement of thyroid lesion diagnosis.