Study on the relationship between thyroid imaging reporting and data system and the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To compare effect between thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) and the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology (TBSRTC) in the qualitative diagnosis of thyroid nodule. Methods The clinical data of 665 patients with thyroid nodule (1 598 nodules) from April 2013 to October 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. TBSRTC and TI-RADS were used for qualitative diagnosis of thyroid nodule before operation. Pathological diagnosis was performed after the operation. The diagnostic effect of TI-RADS and TBSRTC were assessed, and the factors leading to the diagnostic errors were analyzed. Results Of 1 598 thyroid nodules, the pathological diagnosis showed that benign nodules were in 202, and malignant thyroid nodules were in 1 396. The diagnostic sensitivity and 85.64%(173/202) vs. 74.75%(151/202) and specificity of malignant nodules by TBSRTC were significantly higher than that by TI-RADS: 91.76% (1 281/1 396) vs. 87.11% (1 216/1 396), and there was statistical difference (P＜0.01). The diagnosis positive rate of malignant nodules with diameter＜1 cm by TBSRTC was significantly higher than that by TI-RADS: 77.63% (59/76) vs. 47.37% (36/76), and there was statistical difference (P＜0.01); there was no statistical difference in diagnosis positive rate of malignant nodules with diameter ≥ 1 cm between 2 methods (P＞0.05). Univariate analysis result showed that the diameter of thyroid nodules in patients with TI-RADS false negative was significantly smaller than that in patients with benign thyroid nodules: (1.01 ± 0.48) cm vs. (1.51 ± 0.45) cm, the incidence of malignant thyroid nodules combined with other thyroid diseases was significantly higher than that in patients with benign thyroid nodules: 41.18% (21/51) vs. 11.32% (158/1 396), and there were statistical differences (P＜0.05); the rate of thyroid dysfunction in patients with TBSRTC false positive was significantly higher than that in patients with malignant thyroid nodules: 18.26% (21/115) vs. 6.93% (14/202), and there was statistical difference (P＜0.05). Conclusions The qualitative diagnosis of thyroid nodule requires the cross-reference of TI-RADS and TBSRTC, and the combination of other clinical indicators of patients can improve the detection rate of malignant thyroid nodules.

Thyroid Cytology in India: Contemporary Review and Meta-analysis

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a screening test for triaging thyroid nodules, aiding in subsequent clinical management. However, the advantages have been overshadowed by the multiplicity of reporting systems and a wide range of nomenclature used. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) was formulated in 2007, to give the world a uniform thyroid cytology reporting system, facilitating easy interpretation by the clinicians. Here, we review the status of thyroid FNAC in India in terms of various reporting systems used including a meta-analysis of the previously published data. An extensive literature search was performed using internet search engines. The reports with detailed classification system used in thyroid cytology were included. The meta-analysis of published data was compared with the implied risk of malignancy by TBSRTC. More than 50 studies were retrieved and evaluated. TBSRTC is currently the most widely used reporting system with different studies showing good efficacy and interobserver concordance. Ancillary techniques have, as of now, limited applicability and acceptability in thyroid cytology in India. Twenty-eight published articles met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. When compared with TBSRTC recommendations, the meta-analysis showed a higher risk of malignancy for categories I and III. Thyroid FNAC is practiced all over India. TBSRTC has found widespread acceptance, with most institutions using this system for routine thyroid cytology reporting. However, reasons for a high malignancy risk for categories I and III need to be looked into. Various possible contributing factors are discussed in the review.

Thyroid Cytology: The Japanese System and Experience at Yamashita Thyroid Hospital

In Japan, fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is the most important diagnostic modality for triaging patients with thyroid nodules. A clinician (endocrinologist, endocrine surgeon, or head and neck surgeon) generally performs FNA cytology at the outpatient clinic, and ultrasound (US)-guided FNA is widespread because US is extremely common and most clinicians are familiar with it. Although almost all FNA thyroid samples are examined by certified cytopathologists and pathologists, some clinicians assess cytological specimens themselves. In Japan, there are two clinical guidelines regarding the management of thyroid nodules. One is the General Rules for the Description of Thyroid Cancer (GRDTC) published by the Japanese Society of Thyroid Surgery (JSTS) in 2005, and the other is the national reporting system for thyroid FNA cytology published by the Japan Thyroid Association in 2013 (Japanese system). Although the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (Bethesda system) is rarely used in Japan, both the GRDTC and Japanese system tried to incorporate the Bethesda system so that the cytological diagnoses would be compatible with each other. The essential point of the Japanese system is stratification of follicular neoplasm (FN) into three subgroups based on cytological features in order to reduce unnecessary diagnostic thyroidectomy, and this system has been successful in stratifying the risk of malignancy in FN patients at several high-volume thyroid surgery centers. In Japan, the measurement of thyroglobulin and/or calcitonin in FNA needle washings is often used as an adjunct for diagnosis of possible cervical lymph node metastasis when FNA cytology is performed.

Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration Practice in the Philippines

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a well accepted initial approach in the management of thyroid lesions. It has come a long way since its introduction for nearly a century ago. In the Philippines, FNA of the thyroid was first introduced 30 years ago and has been utilized until now as a mainstay in the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy. The procedure is performed by pathologists, endocrinologists, surgeons, and radiologists. Most pathologists report the cytodiagnosis using a combination of the aspiration biopsy cytology method that closely resembles the histopathologic diagnosis of thyroid disorders and the six-tier nomenclature of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. Local endocrinologists and surgeons follow the guidelines of the 2015 American Thyroid Association in the management of thyroid disorders. There is still a paucity of local research studies but available data deal with cytohistologic correlations, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rates as well as usefulness of ultrasound-guided FNA. Cytohistologic correlations have a wide range of sensitivity from 30.7% to 73% and specificity from 83% to 100%. The low sensitivity can be attributed to poor tissue sampling since a majority of the thyroid FNA is done by palpation only. The reliability can be improved if FNA is guided by ultrasound as attested in both international and local studies. Overall, FNA of the thyroid has enabled the diagnosis of thyroid disorders with an accuracy of 72.8% to 87.2% and it correlates well with histopathology.

Current Status of Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration Practice in Thailand

Thyroid carcinoma is one of the leading malignancies in Thailand increasingly prevalent in the female population. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is a widely used diagnostic tool for evaluation of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Thyroid FNA is a routine procedure universally performed in Thai hospitals by a variety of clinical specialists. Manual guidance is the first-line choice complemented by ultrasound assistance in selected cases. Despite national guidelines recommendations, the diagnostic criteria and terminology of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) was slowly adopted in the local settings. Currently, the Bethesda system is actively promoted by the local professional societies as a uniform reporting system. Experience with thyroid FNA has been rarely reported to date—only a handful of publications are available in local journals. Our review, in addition to presenting various aspects of thyroid FNA in Thailand, established for the first time national references for a certain statistical outputs of TBSRTC based on the original multi-institutional cohort. The risk of malignancy in 2,017 operated thyroid nodules collected from three tertiary thyroid cancer centers was 21.7%, 14.7%, 35.9%, 44.4%, 76.7%, and 92.6% for categories I to VI, respectively. The malignancy risk in several diagnostic categories (II to IV) was higher than the risk estimated by TBSRTC and recent meta-analysis studies. We endorse the use of uniform terminology of the Bethesda system in Thailand, which will help facilitate communication among diverse medical professionals involved in the management of patients with thyroid nodules, to share local experience with the international audience.