Introduction:

The thyroid nodule is a common finding nowadays and, for its echographic characteristics, it constitutes a lesion different to the glandular parenchyma, with a high prevalence in the general population.

Objective:

To describe the use of the Bethesda system as diagnostic method of thyroid nodules and the degree of malignancy.

Methods:

A descriptive and retrospective study of 1 771 patients with diagnosis of thyroid nodule was carried out, who underwent fine needle aspiration cytology, in the Pathology Department of Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso Teaching General Hospital in Santiago de Cuba during 2016-2019.

Results:

In the series there was a prevalence of the 41-50 age group and the mean age was of 49,51±13,14 years. Also, the category II of the Bethesda system was notable (73.8 %); as long as, of the 204 diagnosed corresponding to the category III, 111 were surgically intervened and 29 of them presented mlignancy (27.6 %). The degree of malignancy oscillated between 22.8 and 36.0 %.

Conclusions:

The application of the Bethesda system was very useful for the cytopathologic diagnosis of thyroid nodules and the degree of malignancy corresponded with appropriate figures.

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