History of Thyroid Surgery in the Last Century

Prior to the twentieth century, thyroid surgery was regarded as “horrid butchery” such that “no honest and sensible surgeon would ever engage in it.”1 Yet by the mid- twentieth century, thyroidectomy had become a respected, life-saving, safe, and increasingly practiced operation. From Kocher to Wells and onward into the twenty-first century, the evolution of thyroid surgery has continued, enhanced by the integration of endocrinology, genetics, immunology, physiology, technology, training, and multidisciplinary care. The ability to personalize and optimize the care of thyroid disorders has been progressively achieved through shared insights and discoveries, highlights of which are described herein. No competing financial interests exist. No funding was received for this article. Runtime of video: 10 mins