Thyroid nodules are highly prevalent and are the most common disease in thyroid surgery clinics. The prevalence of high-resolution ultrasonography is 19-67%, of which only 5-15% are malignant. How to correctly evaluate and screen thyroid nodules, so as to effectively avoid over-treatment and misdiagnosis and mis-treatment, is of great significance to improve patient prognosis, save medical costs and optimize medical resource allocation. The evaluation and follow-up of thyroid nodules mainly includes clinical assessment, laboratory, imaging and cytological examinations. The clinical evaluation should focus on the presence of family history of thyroid cancer, history of neck radiation and symptoms due to nodule compression. However, thyroid hormone (TSH) is the primary laboratory test for initial evaluation of thyroid nodules; thyroid ultrasonography is the single most valuable imaging test for evaluation and follow-up of thyroid nodules; and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNA) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules and plays an important role in determining the benignity and malignancy of nodules and deciding the next step in the treatment plan. Most benign thyroid nodules require only regular follow-up and no specific treatment. Based on the above examination process, the absolute and relative indications for surgery of thyroid nodules are determined and the corresponding surgical procedures are adopted. Absolute indications for surgery: 1. Large benign nodules with symptoms of pressure; 2. Suspected malignancy or malignancy on FNA. Relative surgical indications: 1, special results of FNA examination (such as follicular or eosinophilic tumor); 2, although the FNA examination is benign, but the ultrasound examination is highly suspicious of malignancy; 3, the nature of the solid part of the cystic nodule cannot be determined, cystic nodules repeatedly pumping recurrence; 4, nodules combined with toxic goiter, drug control is not satisfactory. According to the size and location of the thyroid nodule, its benignity and malignancy and other characteristics, the appropriate surgery is selected, including: partial thyroidectomy, major thyroidectomy, thyroid lobectomy, near-total thyroidectomy and total thyroidectomy. Throughout the surgical treatment of thyroid nodules in China, the problem is that the preoperative FNA examination is not popular enough, resulting in a high rate of diagnostic surgery and excessive treatment; the surgical methods are also confusing, resulting in a high risk of complications and recurrence of thyroid surgery. The key to solve the problem is to actively promote the popularization of the “Guidelines for the treatment of thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer”, emphasize multidisciplinary collaboration, and strengthen the specialization of thyroid surgeons, so as to rationalize and standardize the treatment of thyroid nodules and improve the overall diagnosis and treatment.