In the clinic of hospital surgery of the St. Petersburg state PMA operations on 19 000 patients with diseases of the thoracic gland were performed during 30 years. More than 1000 of these patients were operated on for recurrences. In most patients the recurrence repeated the primary disease of the thyroid gland. It is necessary to single out new diseases of the thyroid residue which make up 11% of the total number of observations. The causes of appearance of the postoperative recurrent goiter are different, the correct diagnosis can be made but after complex examination of the patients which allows to choose rational medical strategy.