Based on the experience acquired in the treatment of 500 patients with thyroid affections, of which 229 had benign nodular goiters and 12 had degenerated nodular goiters, the authors stress the necessity of very detailed preoperative exploration, that are capable to provide a series of essential elements for establishing the indication for surgery. Clinical exploration is also a significant contribution, as well as the peroperative exploration, including the histologic one. The trend is noted, as a result of exploration capabilities, and of improved pre- and postoperative treatment possibilities, to perform extensive, and even total resections.