Cytological evaluation
THYROID
Five pathologists blinded to the stylet status of the passes evaluated cytology specimens. The same pathologist evaluated all specimens of one patient. Every thyroid FNA was first evaluated for specimen adequacy. Each specimen was classified as adequate or inadequate based on the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC). Inadequate specimens (category I specimens in TBSRTC) were defined as specimens that did not meet the criteria for adequacy (presence of at least six groups of well-visualized follicular cells; each group containing at least 10 well-preserved epithelial cells).The two S+ specimens and two S- specimens of one nodule were evaluated as a separate whole with a separate cytologic result (specimens A1 and A2 as “nodule A” specimens and specimens B1 and B2 as “nodule B” specimens). The S+ and S- specimens of the nodule were considered inadequate when the two S+ specimens and two S- specimens were inadequate.