Thyroid tumorigenesis is discussed in the context of the thyroid as a stable tissue, composed of differentiated cells, with a greater dissociation of control of growth from control of differentiation than is found in stem cell tissues. Experimental thyroid carcinogenesis regimes usually use mutagen exposure followed by induced growth. The normal thyroid follicle cell has a limited growth capacity, so loss of one tumour suppressor gene followed by growth-associated loss of heterozygosity would allow escape from this growth limitation, and the formation of a neoplastic clone. In man, there are two pathways of tumour formation, one through follicular adenoma to follicular carcinoma, and one to papillary carcinoma. These two pathways show differing aetiology, and differing oncogene involvement. In the follicular carcinoma pathway TSH-induced growth is relevant as it is in experimental animals. Mutagenesis is important for both papillary and follicular carcinomas. Radiation mutagenesis is of particular current importance because of the occurrence of thyroid carcinoma in children exposed to fallout from Chernobyl. The greater capacity for post-mutagen growth in children than adults is likely to explain the increased radiosensitivity of children, both to external and internal radiation.