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Though the first well-documented thyroidectomy was performed in 1595, Kocher at Bern, Switzerland can be called "Father of thyroid surgery" with his outstanding contributions to the understanding of thyroid disease through both clinical surgery and research. Leadership in the surgery and research of thyroid disease shifted largely to the United States in the 20th century beginning with the elegant studies and careful operative techniques of Halsted and his colleagues. Through this century, there were a lot of progress in surgical treatment of benign and malignant thyroid disease, based on hormonal radioimmunoassay, antithyroid agents, propranolol, FNA, ultrasonography, total thyroidectomy, neck dissection, radioiodine ablation, and molecular thyroidology. Modern technology for genetic analysis has induced detection of genetic alterations underlying hereditary forms of MEN and medullary carcinoma. Prospects toward 21th century also will be progress in the endoscopic thyroid surgery, molecular thyroidology and recontruction or transplantation of larynx, trachea and esophagus. (Korean J Endocrine Surg 2001;1:6-13)
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