[Thyroiditis from the surgical viewpoint].

1296 Patients were treated for thyroid disorders in the Surgical Clinic of the University of Graz between 1975 and 1981. In 3.5% thyroiditis was diagnosed, 75% struma lymphomatosa Hashimoto and 25% subacute thyroiditis de Quervain. 75% of all cases were classified only by histological postoperative examination. Suspected malignancy leads in most cases to operative treatment, but there are also indications because of the inflammatory lesion. We do not believe that thyroiditis should be treated surgically as thyroid carcinoma, neither provides the low incidence between carcinoma and thyroid inflammation any radicality for preventing malignant disorders.