56 children of the age of 1 month to 16 years were treated between 1970 and 1987 for pathological changes of the thyroid gland. In 29 patients the disease presented as a nodular goitre, in 13 as hypothyrosis and cysts, and in 5 as carcinoma. Subtotal resection was performed in a total of 18 cases; rectolateral resection was performed 13 times. In 7 children the left thyroid lobe was resected subtotally and enucleation was performed 13 times. The surgical procedure during the individual disease patterns is discussed.