In the period 1983-1991 16 patients with metastases to the thyroid gland were selected with the aim to compare the treatment results with those reported in literature and eventually arrive at a recommendation on treatment. There were 11 women and 5 men with a mean age of 62 years at diagnosis. The type of the primary tumour varied widely without clear predominance of any histology. The interval between the diagnosis of the primary tumour and the appearance of the thyroid metastasis varied from 0 to 9 years. Three patients were treated with chemotherapy, 3 with radiotherapy, 6 by surgery, 2 with a combination of surgery and postoperative radiotherapy and 2 patients were not treated at all. The median overall survival after treatment was 9 months. All patients eventually showed evidence of disease somewhere in their body. The local control until death or the last follow up visit was complete in case of surgery or a combination of surgery and radiotherapy. Chemotherapy resulted in 2 partial remissions and 1 stable disease. If there is fast systemic progression of disease with evident metastasis elsewhere or a short disease-free period an expectant policy is advocated. In case of (threatening) airway obstruction, a solitary metastasis or a long disease-free period individualised treatment is indicated with the aim of lengthening the disease-free period.