Thyroid cytology Bethesda category III (AUS/FLUS): surgical follow-up and histologic outcomes in a tertiary-care setting

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Source: Frontiers Medicine

Original: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2026.1799405...

Published: 2026-03-19T00:00:00Z

The study examined thyroid cytology findings in category III of the Bethesda classification (AUS/FLUS - atypia or follicular lesion of undetermined significance), which represents a diagnostic challenge in patient management decisions.[1] A retrospective review of cases from 2013–2022 included 243 patients from a total of 1872 fine needle examinations (13.0%), of which 186 patients (76.5%) underwent surgery.[1] Postoperative histologic examination identified 57 malignancies, representing a malignancy rate of 41.9% among cases with a clear cytology-histology relationship and a more conservative estimate of 30.6% among all operated cases.[1] The results showed that the AUS/FLUS category is a relatively frequent finding in the tertiary care setting, often leading to surgical treatment.[1] The rate of reported malignancies was clinically significant, but its value varied depending on how the data were processed and linked.[1] The study highlighted the need for clear patient counseling and ultrasound-based follow-up strategies, as routine molecular testing was not used in the setting.[1]