In current clinical practice, the concept of outpatient surgery could apply to thyroidectomy. As the thyroid is anatomically accessible, its removal is not physiologically disabling; it makes surgery safer and precludes hospitalization. To evaluate the feasibility and solidity of outpatient thyroidectomy (OPT), the authors conducted a 12 1/2-year study (1982-1994), including an earlier 4-year randomized trial on 309 and cumulative posttrial experiences in 869 cases. The results showed the safety, practicality, and efficacy of OPT as compared with standard thyroidectomy. The study confirms the validity of OPT and is suggested for selected patients with thyroid disease.