Principles in Thyroid Surgery

Abstract There are a number of chapters in this text devoted to specific thyroid surgical approaches, ranging from minimally invasive to extracervical, robotic, and even transoral approaches (see Chapter 32 , Robotic and Extra Cervical Approaches to the Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands and Chapter 34 , Minimally Invasive Video-Assisted Thyroidectomy). In this chapter, we review when to perform thyroid surgery, the extent of surgery recommended, and the basic technical principles in standard thyroid surgery; the basic principles are, to some degree, applicable to all forms of thyroid surgery. Standard open thyroid surgery may be considered the basic starting point for all thyroid surgeons; familiarity with these surgical anatomic principles is an essential first step necessary for other less routine surgical approaches.