Diagnostic Accuracy Of Revised Bethesda System For Reporting Thyroid Lesions With Cyto- Histological Correlation

Abstract

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), being reliable, minimally invasive, cost effective, having high sensitivity and specificity, has been applied routinely as a useful and indispensable method to diagnose thyroid lesions. FNAC has allowed a dramatic decrease in unnecessary surgeries with thyroid nodular disease, enhancing the percentage of malignant operated nodules over 50%. It is relied upon to distinguish benign from neoplastic/malignant thyroid nodules, thus, influencing therapeutic decisions. However, there is some "gray zone" of thyroid cytology where the diagnostic efficacy of FNA declines sharply, rendering it difficult to exactly categorize the nature of the lesion leading to discrepant cases.