Usefulness of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration Specimens

Abstract

The Bethesda System for reporting thyroid cytopathology was formulated in 2007 by a multidisciplinary groupof thyroid experts (pathologists, endocrinologists, surgeons and radiologists) met in Bethesda, Maryland, USA inorder to provide uniform, standard and international terminology for reporting thyroid fine needle aspirations. Thecytologic diagnosis in this system are reported in six categories: 1) non-diagnostic or unsatisfactory, 2) benign, 3)atypia of undetermined significance / follicular lesion of undetermined significance), 4) follicular neoplasm /suspicious for a follicular neoplasm, 5) suspicious for malignancy and 6) malignant. This system has been used moreworldwide because it gives standardization, reproducibility of the reports and provides more useful informationamong pathologists and clinician.