[Goiter surgery from Kocher to today].

When thyroid surgery was founded and developed by Billroth, Kocher, Miculicz, Halsted and De Quervain, a variable approach was used with respect to the extent of dorsal mobilization, completeness of goiter resection and finesse of the operative technique. These aspects of goiter resection are still of interest today: nodules are now considered as a growth marker and must be completely excised, necessitating careful dorsal mobilization; Kocher's correct plane of dissection is now anatomically defined as lying anterior to the lamella which covers the vessel and nerve-containing plate of the neck. In a prospective study, this technical approach for complete goiter excision has proven to harbour a low operative morbidity, to eliminate autonomous function, and to prevent goiter recurrence.