[The thyroid one and goiter through the ages].

The written works and the works of art testify the goitres existed over thousands of years. However for a long time they were confused with scrofula and several cervical tumours. In fact the thyroid gland was only discovered and described at Renaissance and its role was known at the end of the XIXth century. The treatment of goitre remained vague even though as soon as the ancient times seaweed and sponge ashes were prescribed, that was premonitory therapeutic approach. As for the surgical treatment, it appeared only one century ago and it is noticeable that the first surgeons who operated goitres played a significant role in the understanding of the thyroid physiology.