The Thyroid Nodule Pathway at Institut Curie

Institut Curie offers patients with one or more thyroid nodule(s) to integrate the "Thyroid Nodule Pathway". This diagnostic pathway set up by Institut Curie allows for the diagnosis and therapeutic guidance of patients with one or more thyroid nodules.

In the course of half a day, the patient undergoes a thyroid ultrasound and has a consultation with an ENT specialist/endocrinologist. Depending on the size and appearance of the nodule(s), the radiologist may perform a cytopuncture of the nodule(s) during the ultrasound (short sampling using a fine needle) in order to refine the diagnosis. Thyroid nodules are very often benign.

If a cytopuncture has been performed, its results will be available at the second consultation with the ENT doctor/endocrinologist (within 3 weeks of sampling), and, if necessary, monitoring or surgical treatment may be proposed to the patient. Several surgical options can be proposed:

• lobo-isthmectomy (removal of only one of the two thyroid lobes) most often makes it possible to preserve the function of secretion of the thyroid hormone and thus avoid substitution treatment with thyroid hormone
• if this is not possible, a total thyroidectomy (removal of the entire thyroid and thus a need for lifelong thyroid hormone replacement).

In all cases, a clear, detailed explanation of the expected modalities, benefits, and risks is provided during this consultation with the ENT surgeon.

Thyroid surgery is an important competence of the ENT surgery department of Institut Curie.