Introduction: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) plays a vital role in the management of thyroid lesions. Historically terminologies used for reporting thyroid FNAC has varied significantly from one laboratory to another, creating confusion in some cases. A uniform reporting system for thyroid FNAC will facilitate effective communication among cytopathologists, endocrinologists, surgeons, radiologists and other health care providers. Present study is done to evaluate the efficacy of The Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology. Methodology: Patients with thyroid lesions referred to the Pathology Department, Medical College, and Hospital & Research Centrefor FNAC are taken. Interpretation of these cases was done as Per the Bethesda System. Results: Total numbers of cases studied on FNAC were 104. Out of 104 cases 82(78.8%) were benign lesions, 10(9.6%) were unsatisfactory/ nondiagnostic, 6(6.20%) were Follicular Neoplasm/ suspicious for neoplasm, 4(4.16%) were suspicious of malignancy, 3(3.12%) were Malignant and 1case was reported as Atypia of undetermined significance. Conclusion: Bethesda system of reporting thyroid cytopathology is beneficial for clinical follow up and surgical management. It helps to reduce the rate of unnecessary thyroid surgery for benign thyroid lesion and helps to plan the surgical management in malignant thyroid lesion.

Keywords: Thyroid; Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology; the Bethesda System.