The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery recognizes that after one year of general surgical training, an otolaryngology resident spends a minimum of four years being educated and trained exclusively in the head and neck region. The normal and abnormal functioning of the thyroid and parathyroid glands is a fundamental part of this education. The treatment of thyroid and parathyroid disorders, both medical and surgical, are an integral part of this specialty.
Adopted 3/8/1983
Reviewed 9/16/1995
Revised 9/16/1995
Submitted for Review 3/1/1998
Reaffirmed 3/1/1998
Revised 6/8/2002
Revised 9/28/2013
Important Disclaimer Notice (Updated 7/31/14)
Position statements are approved by the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery or Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) Boards of Directors and are typically generated from AAO-HNS/F committees. Once approved by the Academy or Foundation Board of Directors, they become official position statements and are added to the existing position statement library. In no sense do they represent a standard of care. The applicability of position statements, as guidance for a procedure, must be determined by the responsible physician in light of all the circumstances presented by the individual patient. Adherence to these clinical position statements will not ensure successful treatment in every situation. As with all AAO-HNS/F guidance, this position statement should not be deemed inclusive of all proper treatment decisions or methods of care, nor exclusive of other treatment decisions or methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. Position statements are not intended to and should not be treated as legal, medical, or business advice.
