Cytomorphological spectrum of thyroid lesions using the Bethesda system: A retrospective study

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a reliable, minimally invasive technique for evaluating thyroid lesions and the Bethesda System standardizes cytological reporting and clinical decision-making. This retrospective study analyzed 105 patients with palpable thyroid swellings over 1.5 years, classifying lesions according to the Bethesda System (Categories I-VI). The majority of patients were females (86%) with peak incidence in the 31-40 years age group. Most cases were benign (Category II), accounting for 88.5%, while 11.5% were categorized as follicular neoplasm or suspicious for malignancy, indicating higher malignancy risk. Thus, data shows the effectiveness of FNAC combined with the Bethesda system in ensuring accurate diagnosis, risk stratification and appropriate management of thyroid lesions.