OBJECTIVE Selective and critical presentation of the present exploring methods concerning surgical thyroid diseases and accomplishing a pre-surgical diagnosis as accurate as possible. Depending of the diagnosis--choosing the most appropriate surgical strategy according to the newest concepts in thyroid pathology. METHODS Clinical-statistic study, carried out retrospectively over 1,108 patients having various surgical thyroid maladies hospitalized in 1980-1999 period. There have been operated 1,058 cases. Demographic structure as regards sex, F/M was 9.07/0.93 for goiters, whereas for thyroid cancer it was 3/1. RESULTS Nodular goiters are the most frequent (77.31%), with a pathology benign majority (91.30%). The fundamental problem is the pre-surgical establish malign lesions that require a complex therapeutic protocol comparing to benign nodules. Benign lesions 91.30%, carcinomas 5.48%, others 3.21%. All types of thyroidectomies have been made: T.ST 69.37%, T.T for benign and malign lesions 7.65% and other procedures. Thyroid specific morbidity is 4.25%, whereas unspecific is 8.69%. The 0.08% mortality (1 case), virtually null, place the result between the best of the kind. CONCLUSIONS Pre-surgical diagnosis, as accurate as possible, based on the clinic exam using the vacuum punction with a fine needle, finally confirmed by the paraffin exam, provided the choice of an optimal surgical strategy, followed by an appropriate post-surgical protocol. Total thyroidectomy is the preferred procedure is most of the thyroid cancer forms and in benign diseases is highly recommended (multi-nodular goiters, hyperthyroid, Basedow disease, cancer).