E-ISSN 2305-1620 | ISSN 2221-0288
 
2026, Vol: 16, Issue: 1
16 / 1Current Issue Online First Archive Aims and Scope Abstracting & Indexing Most Accessed Articles Most Downloaded Articles Most Cited Articles
Required files to be uploaded

Title page (Sample)

Commentary
Online Published: 09 Sep 2026
 


Fine-needle aspiration cytology in thyroid nodule evaluation: insights from the ATA 2025 Guidelines

Muhammad Kashif Rahim.


Abstract
Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) remains the cornerstone of thyroid nodule evaluation, offering a minimally invasive, cost effective, and reliable diagnostic approach. Over the past decade, evolving evidence has reshaped its role in risk stratification, surgical planning, and integration with molecular diagnostics. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) 2025 Guidelines herald a transformative change, emphasizing risk-adapted thresholds, selective biopsy, and patient-centered care. Compared with the ATA 2015 Guidelines, the updated recommendations underscore the importance of ultrasound-based risk stratification, molecular testing, and avoidance of overdiagnosis. This article reviews the historical evolution of FNAC, outlines key updates in the ATA 2025 Guidelines, and discusses clinical implications, challenges in resource-limited settings, and future directions. FNAC remains a cornerstone of thyroid cancer management, yet its application today is increasingly refined, calling for consistency with guideline recommendations and responsiveness to local healthcare realities.

Key words: Thyroid cancer, Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), American Thyroid Association (ATA) Guidelines 2025, Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology


 
ARTICLE TOOLS
Abstract
PDF Fulltext
How to cite this articleHow to cite this article
Citation Tools
Related Records
 Articles by Muhammad Kashif Rahim
on Google
on Google Scholar


How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Muhammad Kashif Rahim. Fine-needle aspiration cytology in thyroid nodule evaluation: insights from the ATA 2025 Guidelines. Pak J Nucl Med. 2026; 16(1): 06-09. doi:10.24911/PJNMed.175-1777525645

Web Style

Muhammad Kashif Rahim. Fine-needle aspiration cytology in thyroid nodule evaluation: insights from the ATA 2025 Guidelines. https://www.pjnmed.com/?mno=319187 [Access: September 19, 2026]. doi:10.24911/PJNMed.175-1777525645

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Muhammad Kashif Rahim. Fine-needle aspiration cytology in thyroid nodule evaluation: insights from the ATA 2025 Guidelines. Pak J Nucl Med. 2026; 16(1): 06-09. doi:10.24911/PJNMed.175-1777525645


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Muhammad Kashif Rahim. Fine-needle aspiration cytology in thyroid nodule evaluation: insights from the ATA 2025 Guidelines. Pak J Nucl Med. (2026), [cited September 19, 2026]; 16(1): 06-09. doi:10.24911/PJNMed.175-1777525645


Harvard Style

Muhammad Kashif Rahim (2026) Fine-needle aspiration cytology in thyroid nodule evaluation: insights from the ATA 2025 Guidelines. Pak J Nucl Med, 16 (1), 06-09. doi:10.24911/PJNMed.175-1777525645


Turabian Style

Muhammad Kashif Rahim. 2026. Fine-needle aspiration cytology in thyroid nodule evaluation: insights from the ATA 2025 Guidelines. Pakistan Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 16 (1), 06-09. doi:10.24911/PJNMed.175-1777525645


Chicago Style

Muhammad Kashif Rahim. "Fine-needle aspiration cytology in thyroid nodule evaluation: insights from the ATA 2025 Guidelines." Pakistan Journal of Nuclear Medicine 16 (2026), 06-09. doi:10.24911/PJNMed.175-1777525645


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Muhammad Kashif Rahim. "Fine-needle aspiration cytology in thyroid nodule evaluation: insights from the ATA 2025 Guidelines." Pakistan Journal of Nuclear Medicine 16.1 (2026), 06-09. Print. doi:10.24911/PJNMed.175-1777525645


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Muhammad Kashif Rahim (2026) Fine-needle aspiration cytology in thyroid nodule evaluation: insights from the ATA 2025 Guidelines. Pakistan Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 16 (1), 06-09. doi:10.24911/PJNMed.175-1777525645




Most Viewed Articles
Most Accessed Articles

  • Determination of the optimum filter for 99mTc SPECT breast imaging using a wire mesh collimator
    Xianling Dong, M I Saripan, R Mahmud, S Mashohor, Aihui Wang
    Pak J Nucl Med. 2017; 7(1): 9-15
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/PJNMed.7.2

  • Behaviour of wedges for different field sizes and depths
    Sajjad Ahmed Memon, Naeem Ahmed Laghari, Fayaz Hussain Mangi
    Pak J Nucl Med. 2017; 7(1): 20-27
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/PJNMed.7.4

  • Clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of patients with differentiated carcinoma of thyroid with bone metastases: a retrospective study
    Sadaf Tufail Butt, Shazia Fatima, Noreen Marwat, Kahkashan Mir, Ayesha Ammar, Mohammad Faheem
    Pak J Nucl Med. 2017; 7(1): 34-37
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/PJNMed.7.6

  • Pre-operative cardiac risk stratification for noncardiac surgery in cancer patients using myocardial perfusion scintigraphy
    Iqbal Munir, Amrah Javaid, Khalid Nawaz, Mohammed Hathaf Al-Rowaily, Muaadh Abdualrehman Al-Asbahi
    Pak J Nucl Med. 2017; 7(1): 28-33
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/PJNMed.7.5

  • A brief review of targetted radionuclide therapies
    Mohammed Hathaf Al-Rowaily, Daniele Dondi, MarcoChinol, Iqbal Munir, Muaadh Abdualrehman Alasbahi
    Pak J Nucl Med. 2017; 7(1): 4-8
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/PJNMed.7.1

    •
    Most Downloaded
    Top Downloaded Articles

  • Behaviour of wedges for different field sizes and depths
    Sajjad Ahmed Memon, Naeem Ahmed Laghari, Fayaz Hussain Mangi
    Pak J Nucl Med. 2017; 7(1): 20-27
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/PJNMed.7.4

  • Determination of the optimum filter for 99mTc SPECT breast imaging using a wire mesh collimator
    Xianling Dong, M I Saripan, R Mahmud, S Mashohor, Aihui Wang
    Pak J Nucl Med. 2017; 7(1): 9-15
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/PJNMed.7.2

  • Characterization of SIEMENS Symbia T SPECT camera in Monte Carlo simulation environment
    Xianling Dong, Mahmud Iqbal Saripan, Rozi Mahmud, Syamsiah Mashohor, Aihui Wang,
    Pak J Nucl Med. 2018; 8(1): 18-26
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/PJNMed.175-1540569779

  • A historic review of the discovery of the medical uses of radioiodine
    Barbara Hertz, Pushan Bharadwaj, Bennett Greenspan
    Pak J Nucl Med. 2020; 10(1): 60-63
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/PJNMed.175-1582813482

  • Pre-operative cardiac risk stratification for noncardiac surgery in cancer patients using myocardial perfusion scintigraphy
    Iqbal Munir, Amrah Javaid, Khalid Nawaz, Mohammed Hathaf Al-Rowaily, Muaadh Abdualrehman Al-Asbahi
    Pak J Nucl Med. 2017; 7(1): 28-33
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/PJNMed.7.5

    •

    About Pakistan Journal of Nuclear Medicine

    The Pakistan Journal of Nuclear Medicine (PJNM) is the official journal of the Pakistan Society of Nuclear Medicine and the first nuclear medicine journal ... Read more.



    For best results, please use Internet Explorer or Google Chrome.

    Contact Information

    Address: Pakistan Journal of Nuclear Medicine (PJNM), Room # D-115, D-Block, Department of Medical Sciences, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad, 45650, Pakistan.

    Email: pjnm@pieas.edu.pk, Phone: +92 51 9248706, Fax: +92 51 9248600

    Title Owner: Pakistan Society of Nuclear Medicine

    https://psnmed.com/

    Society Email: secretary@psnmed.com

    Address: Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Oncology (INMOL), New Campus Road, Lahore, Pakistan.

    Contact the publisher:

    contact@discoverpublish.com

    https://discoverpublish.com/ 

    Address: Discover STM Publishing Ltd, 82 Leslie's Arch, Old Quarter, Ballincollig, Cork, P31 RY62, Ireland.

    Hours:  M-F: 8:30am - 5:30pm

    Contact Emails:

    Journal Editorial Office: contact@pjnmed.com

    Billing Support:  contact@discoverpublish.com

    Technical Support: anastasiia.pavlenco@sofiafields.com - https://sofiafields.com/ 


     
    POLICIES & JOURNAL LINKS
    Author Login
    Reviewer Login
    Author LoginReviewer LoginAbout PublisherOpen Access PolicyEditorial PoliciesEditorial Review PolicyPeer Review PolicyEditorial & Peer Review ProcessAuthor's Rights and ObligationsPublication Ethics and Publication Malpractice StatementConflict of Interest PolicyPlagiarism PolicyProtection of Research Participants (Statement On Human And Animal Rights)Privacy PolicyCorrections, Retractions & Expressions of ConcernSelf-Archiving PoliciesDigital Archiving & Preservation PoliciesStatement of Informed ConsentAdvertising PolicyTerms of UseLicense InformationCopyright Information