The evolving role of interventional cytopathology from thyroid FNA to NGS: Lessons learned at Federico II University of Naples.

Abstract

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) guided by ultrasound (US) has emerged as a highly precise diagnostic method for managing thyroid nodules, significantly diminishing unnecessary surgeries. The effectiveness of US-guided FNA is high when a single specialist performs the FNA procedure and the microscopy. This paradigm has paved the way for the evolution of interventional cytopathology, a specialist with a pivotal role in the preoperative diagnostic process, encompassing patient history review, clinical examination, FNA execution under US guidance, preparation, and microscopic interpretation of cytological samples. As the landscape of precision medicine unfolds, molecular testing assumes greater importance in thyroid cytopathology, particularly in refining the risk of malignancy for indeterminate nodules. The updated Bethesda classification system underscores the clinical significance of molecular tests, emphasizing their role in refining diagnostic accuracy. With this evolving landscape, interventional cytopathologists must adapt by acquiring expertise in molecular technologies and addressing ongoing challenges in workflow harmonization and optimization. This paper delves into our decade-long experience as interventional cytopathologists, focusing on recent endeavours to ensure adequate samples not only for microscopic diagnosis but also for molecular testing. Additionally, here we review the challenges of integrating next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology into clinical practice, highlighting the importance of integrating clinically meaningful molecular data into comprehensive molecular cytology reports.