Application of Bethesda System in the FNAB of thyroids

Abstract

Background: the decisive task of cytology in the pre-surgical evaluation of the thyroidal nodule has promoted more and more the application of the Bethesda system in this glandule diagnosis by fine needle biopsy because of the advantages it offers, being the motive of the present term.
Aim: to evaluate the Bethesda system usage in thyroids cytology with fine needle in the University Clinical Surgical Hospital Comandante Faustino Pérez, of Matanzas, and to determine cytological-ultrasonographic correlation.
Methods: we carried out a retrospective, descriptive study of the thyroids fine needle biopsies of 2012 where the Bethesda system diagnosis was used; their results were related with the ultrasonographic ones in 652 cases who formed the universe of study.
Outcomes: 652 of the 1 516 cytologies carried out in the consultation of fine needle biopsy were thyroidal ones, representing 43 % of the total, being most of the patients female ones, with 605 cases. The predominant age group was the one grouping people aged 40-49 years, for 31,29 %. Class II Bethesda was the most represented, with 536 cases (82,2 %), and there it was a poor correlation between cytological results and ultrasonographic description.
Conclusions: the application of Bethesda system in the thyroidal fine needle biopsy is very useful in pre-surgery diagnosis; it is also important a good ultrasonographic description for the sake of improving cytological diagnosis and avoiding carrying out this procedure in unnecessary cases.