When the diagnosis of carcinoma of the thyroid gland is established, the decision must be made whether or not to perform a neck dissection. Although our experience does not justify a final answer with respect to this question, we believe it does indicate the necessity for a radical neck dissection for patients with evidence of cervical lymph node metastases from an operable carcinoma of the thyroid. The data do not indicate the absolute necessity for an immediate neck dissection for patients without cervical lymphadenopathy in whom thyroid carcinoma is present. However, we do believe that a modified neck dissection is justified in many of these patients. Materials The microscopic diagnosis of carcinoma of the thyroid has been made on 132 cases occurring through 1957 at the Henry Ford Hospital. The first patient was seen in 1924. Of the total of 132 patients, a neck dissection was performed on a total