An overview of thyroid fine-needle aspiration practice in Myanmar

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.