German Association of Endocrine Surgeons practice guidelines for the surgical treatment of benign thyroid disease

Benign thyroid disorders are among the most common diseases in Germany, affecting around 15 million
people and leading to more than 100,000 thyroid surgeries per year. Since the first German guidelines for the surgical treatment of benign goiter were published in 1998, abundant new information has become available, significantly shifting surgical strategy towards more radical interventions. Additionally, minimally invasive techniques have been developed and gained wide usage. These circumstances demanded a revision of the guidelines. Mehr