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Benign

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The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology

Abstract

Thyroid FNA derives much of its clinical value from its ability to reliably identify benign thyroid nodules, thus sparing many patients with nodular thyroid disease unnecessary surgery. Since most thyroid nodules are benign, a benign result is the most common FNA interpretation (approx. 65% of all cases).

To report benign thyroid cytopathology results, the term “Benign” is preferred over other terms such as “Negative for malignancy” and “Non-neoplastic.”Benign cytopathology is associated with a very low risk of malignancy, and patients are usually followed conservatively with periodic clinical and radiologic examinations. Benign results are further sub-classified as benign follicular nodules, thyroiditis, or other less common entities. Nodular goiter (NG) is the most commonly sampled lesion by FNA, and lymphocytic (Hashimoto’s) thyroiditis is the most commonly encountered form of thyroiditis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ball Memorial Hospital/PA Labs, Muncie, IN, USA

    Tarik M. Elsheikh M.D.

  2. Department of Pathology, Lariboisière Hospital, University of Paris 7, Paris, France

    Béatrix Cochand-Priollet M.D., Ph.D.

  3. Department of Pathology, University Hospital “12 de Octubre,”, Madrid, Spain

    Pedro Patricio de Agustin M.D., Ph.D.

  4. Department of Pathology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Mary K. Sidawy M.D.

  5. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, USA

    Matthew A. Zarka M.D.

Authors
  1. Tarik M. Elsheikh M.D.
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  2. Béatrix Cochand-Priollet M.D., Ph.D.
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  3. Pedro Patricio de Agustin M.D., Ph.D.
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  4. Mary K. Sidawy M.D.
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  5. Matthew A. Zarka M.D.
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. N. Wolfe Street, PATH 406 600, Baltimore, 21287, U.S.A.

    Syed Z. Ali

  2. Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Francis St. 75, Boston, 02115, U.S.A.

    Edmund S. Cibas

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Elsheikh, T.M., Cochand-Priollet, B., de Agustin, P.P., Sidawy, M.K., Zarka, M.A. (2010). Benign. In: Ali, S., Cibas, E. (eds) The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-87666-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-87666-5_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-87665-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-87666-5

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