Use of a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in patients with non-malignant thyroid nodules.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female patient 18 years or older.

• Patient presenting with at least one thyroid nodule with no signs of malignancy:

  1. Non suspect clinically and at ultrasonography imaging
  2. Benign cytological diagnosis at fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) from the last 6 months
  3. Normal serum calcitonin
  4. No history of neck irradiation

• Normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).

• Targeted nodule accessible and eligible to HIFU

• Absence of abnormal vocal cord mobility at laryngoscopy.

• Nodule diameter ≥ 10mm measured by ultrasound.

• Nodule volume inferior to 10 cc

• Composition of the targeted nodule(s) : no more than 30% cystic

Exclusion Criteria:

• Head and/or neck disease that prevents hyperextension of neck.
• Known history of thyroid cancer or other neoplasias in the neck region.
• History of neck irradiation.
• Macrocalcification inducing a shadow in the thyroid significant enough to preclude the HIFU treatment
• Posterior position of the nodule if the thickness of the nodule is <15mm
• Pregnant or lactating woman
• Any contraindication to the assigned analgesia/anaesthesia.