Recent Advances in Thyroid Surgery

The principles of thyroid surgery, meticulous anatomical dissection, careful vascular ligation, and preservation of surrounding structures, remain unchanged since they were popularized by Theodor Kocher in the late nineteenth century. The image of thyroid surgery has shifted away from the “horrible butchery” described by Gross in 1,866, to routine, same-day, or even outpatient surgery. In part this is due to technological advances along with a greater understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the gland. Recent advances in thyroid surgery can be divided into: