Pilot imaging study of o-BMVC foci for discrimination of indeterminate cytology in diagnosing fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy of a fluorescence probe, 3,6-bis(1-methyl-2-vinylpyridinium) carbazole diiodide (o-BMVC), provides an objective method for preoperative diagnosis of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules. The key of this o-BMVC test of FNA smears is the measurement of the digital number of o-BMVC foci in the nucleus. Thus, there are three categories classified in the o-BMVC test, which are nondiagnostic for unsatisfactory samples, benign for less numbers of o-BMVC foci, and malignant for more numbers of o-BMVC foci. The discrimination of indeterminate (including atypia, follicular neoplasm, suspicious) cytology into benign or malignant cases can reduce diagnostic uncertainty and benefit clinical decision making. This pilot study strongly suggests that the o-BMVC test is an invaluable method for diagnosing FNA samples. Particularly, the combination of FNA cytology and the o-BMVC test holds great promise to improve the efficacy of diagnosis and reduce the healthcare costs.

Automated summary

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy utilizing the fluorescence probe o-BMVC offers an objective way for preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules through counting o-BMVC foci in the nucleus. The o-BMVC test categorizes samples into nondiagnostic, benign, or malignant based on the number of foci, aiding in distinguishing between indeterminate cytology to improve clinical decision making. The combination of FNA cytology and the o-BMVC test shows promise in enhancing diagnostic efficacy and reducing healthcare costs.