title: Current technology in thyroid surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  After nearly 100 years of inertia in the field of thyroid surgery, the last 5 years have seen substantial changes in how patients with thyroid disease are approached surgically. Much of this evolution has been technologically driven, particularly as a result of advances in high-resolution endoscopy and ultrasonic technology, intraoperative image guidance, and cranial nerve monitoring.
  
  
  METHODS
  State-of-the-art review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three emerging technologies that are gradually becoming embraced by thyroid surgeons are reviewed in detail.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modern endocrine-head and neck surgeons bear an obligation to cautiously consider value-adding technologies when a benefit to their patients is apparent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912-4060, USA. dterris@mcg.edu
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Terris
authors.forename: Brendan C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Stack
mesh_terms: D004576:Electromyography; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D009431:Neural Conduction; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*