[Current diagnostic and treatment problems in thyroid cancer]

The paper deals with a 10-year experience (1971-1980) of treating tumors of head and neck at the Institute. Different aspects of early diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma, its adequate therapy and organisational measures required for its prevention are discussed on the basis of 1,304 case histories of thyroid cancer. Up-to-date methods of early diagnosis of thyroid cancer (diagnostic puncture and thyroidlymphography), which can be integrated with general medical practice, are recommended. Causes of errors leading to failure to remove the whole malignancy are discussed. Recommendations how to obviate this difficulty are given and measures aimed at ensuring a 5-year survival in 98% of cases and adapted to different groups of cancer patients are suggested.