Indeterminate; the cells look unusual, but not definitely cancerous.
It categorizes thyroid nodules into six distinct groups based on the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) results, each associated with a specific risk of malignancy (RoM) and recommended management:
The sample did not have enough cells to make a diagnosis. II: Benign: High probability of being non-cancerous. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytop...
Indeterminate; high risk of being a follicular tumor, often requiring surgery to differentiate.
It ensures that a "suspicious" result means the same thing, regardless of which lab processed it. Indeterminate; the cells look unusual, but not definitely
High probability of cancer; often leads to surgery. VI: Malignant: Confirmed cancer cells. Key Benefits
Each category helps clinicians understand the likelihood of malignancy to guide treatment (e.g., surveillance vs. surgery). Indeterminate; high risk of being a follicular tumor,
Before this system was finalized (originally around 2010 and updated in 2023), different laboratories used different terms to describe thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples, causing confusion for clinicians. The Bethesda System was developed through an NIH-sponsored conference to create a common language.
