Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology, is an initial investigation in evaluation of thyroid lesions. Due to lack of standardized system for reporting thyroid lesions in cytology; in 2007, TBSRTC was introduced. It is a six tier system. Aim: To compare The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) with the conventional Cytopathology method and their concordance with histopathological diagnosis. Objective: To compare the morphological diagnosis and classification of thyroid lesions as per conventional Cytopathology method & TBSRTC . Also compare the cytological diagnosis of thyroid swellings with the radiological findings and histopathological proven cases as and when possible. Material & Methods: The study included 163 cases of thyroid swellings in which 59 cases underwent surgery. Clinical and radiological details were retrieved from the hospital database and were subjected to histopathological evaluation. Results: In our study, out of 163 cases, majority were females ( 139, 85.3%) . Age ranged from 17-77 years; mean age was 43 years. Adequacy rate was 92 %. Category II had maximum cases; i.e, 122 .The sensitivity, specificity , PPV and NPV in 59 cases were 94%, 82%, 89%, 90% by conventional cytopathology method; and 97% , 86% , 92% , 95% by TBSRTC respectively. Thus overall TBSRTC was found to be better. Conclusion: Category I and II had more accurate categorization index. Category V and VI had precision in the diagnosis, that indicates clear cut distinctions between the two ends of spectrum . Category III and IV cases had high discordant rate. This suggests that there is need for further clarity for diagnostic categorization. The findings of TBSRTC could be further refined by applying more advanced immune cytochemical methods and molecular genetic analysis.

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology, is an initial investigation in evaluation of thyroid lesions. Due to lack of standardized system for reporting thyroid lesions in cytology; in 2007, TBSRTC was introduced. It is a six tier system. Aim: To compare The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) with the conventional Cytopathology method and their concordance with histopathological diagnosis. Objective: To compare the morphological diagnosis and classification of thyroid lesions as per conventional Cytopathology method & TBSRTC . Also compare the cytological diagnosis of thyroid swellings with the radiological findings and histopathological proven cases as and when possible. Material & Methods: The study included 163 cases of thyroid swellings in which 59 cases underwent surgery. Clinical and radiological details were retrieved from the hospital database and were subjected to histopathological evaluation. Results: In our study, out of 163 cases, majority were females ( 139, 85.3%) . Age ranged from 17-77 years; mean age was 43 years. Adequacy rate was 92 %. Category II had maximum cases; i.e, 122 .The sensitivity, specificity , PPV and NPV in 59 cases were 94%, 82%, 89%, 90% by conventional cytopathology method; and 97% , 86% , 92% , 95% by TBSRTC respectively. Thus overall TBSRTC was found to be better. Conclusion: Category I and II had more accurate categorization index. Category V and VI had precision in the diagnosis, that indicates clear cut distinctions between the two ends of spectrum . Category III and IV cases had high discordant rate. This suggests that there is need for further clarity for diagnostic categorization. The findings of TBSRTC could be further refined by applying more advanced immune cytochemical methods and molecular genetic analysis.