[Inflammation of the thyroid gland from the aspect of surgical treatment]

The authors submit surgeons' and endocrinologists' views on treatment of thyroiditis. In the course of a 16-year period an acute spell of thyroiditis was treated by surgery only twice, once a case of subacute thyroiditis, and in all other 348 instances chronic thyroiditis was involved. In the latter group Hashimoto's thyroiditis predominated. Among various controversial reports concerning its treatment the authors maintain that surgery is suitable after failure of short-term conservative therapy. The extent of the operation usually corresponds to total thyroidectomy.