Cancer of the thyroid gland may be a less common condition than carcinoma of the breast, lung, or colon, but it occurs with suf?cient frequency to constitute a major problem that is of concern to general practitioners, physicians, and particularly s- geons.Some idea of the frequency of thyroid carcinoma is given by its incidence in the United States. Every year some 26,000 patients are diagnosed there as suffering from thyroid cancer.Comparable ?gures apply to most countries in Europe although the in- dence does vary somewhat from country to country,perhaps depending on the endo- nous iodine intake.Of the 21,000 patients diagnosed annually in the United States,two thirds will be women,and some 800 will die of the disease during the year. This book should do much to improve the outcome in the treatment of thyroid cancer. First because it is written by a small team of experts of international repute. Secondly their wide experience of the condition allows them to write with authority and thirdly they express their views in clear and commendable English.