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Review
. 2020 Oct;9(5):1747-1753.
doi: 10.21037/gs-20-414.

An overview of thyroid fine-needle aspiration practice in Myanmar

Zun Pwint Oo  1 , Aung Myo Hlaing  2 , Khin Chaw Su Kyi  1 , Junya Fukuoka  3   4 , Andrey Bychkov  3   4
Affiliations
Review

An overview of thyroid fine-needle aspiration practice in Myanmar

Zun Pwint Oo et al. Gland Surg. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the thyroid is a widely accepted method for aiding the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. In Myanmar, it has been done since the early 1990s, and mainly performed by surgeons and otorhinolaryngologists. The interpretation of cytology is solely made by pathologists. Although some of the experts particularly those from specialist hospitals use the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC), many still prefer the British five-tier cytopathology report. Available local publications addressing the accuracy of FNAC and cytologic-histologic correlations were queried. Ten studies performed in 1991-2018 on 540 thyroid nodules were included. Cytologic-histologic correlations showed a range of sensitivity from 64.29% to 100%, specificity from 93% to 100%, and diagnostic accuracy from 94% to 100%. The adoption of TBSRTC by pathologists is still slow and should be encouraged via seminars and training programs. Further multihospital-based large cohort studies with uniform design and adequate follow-up are needed to better promote and assess utility of thyroid FNAC in Myanmar.

Keywords: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC); Myanmar; the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology; thyroid.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/gs-20-414). The series “Asian and Western Practice in Thyroid Pathology: Similarities and Differences” was commissioned by the editorial office without any funding or sponsorship. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare.

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