[Surgical techniques for benign goiter]

For surgical therapy of benign thyroid diseases several different procedures are available. The specific use of these techniques depends on the particular morphologic and functional findings. Tissue that is benign is left in place as far as possible - pathologically changed tissue has to be removed. Practicable operation techniques are: excision or enucleation of solitary thyroid nodule, upper or lower pole resection, subtotal resection, near total resection and hemithyroidectomy.