Terminology and nomenclature schemes for reporting thyroid cytopathology: An overview

The clinical management of thyroid nodules begins with a cytologic diagnosis. Current multidisciplinary approaches to thyroid nodule management rely on clear and concise diagnoses that can be reliably and reproducibly interpreted across institutions. Ultimately, this clinical necessity has led to multidisciplinary bodies throughout the world to develop standardized reporting formats which have themselves evolved over time. Herein we review the three major international nomenclatures for reporting thyroid cytopathology, including, the British Thyroid Association and Royal College of Pathologists (Thy), the Italian Consensus (TIR) and the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. Alignment of these three diagnostic terminologies and the emergence of a single internationally agreed upon one has the potential to lead to more succinct, evidence-driven clinical management algorithms.