We report 22 cases of well -differentiated thyroid carcinoma infiltrating the upper airway tract. This retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the prognosis md to determine optimal therapy for thyroid carcinoma adhering to or invading the trachea or larynx from 1984.3 to 1996.12. The treatment was individualized depending on the extent of the cancer. There were 12 cases dissected free by an laryngotracheal shaving, 7 cases removed by an tracheal resection with end to end anastomosis, 3 cases removed by an total laryngectomy. In all of these cases, we performed a total thyroidectomy with an accompanying neck dissection. There were no major complications during the operation. Over the 5-years observation period, 11 patients are alive without a sign of recurrence, 4 Patients are alive with recurrence, 7 died of thyroid carcinoma; 2 of 12 in an laryngotracheal shaving cases, 2 of 7 in an tracheal resection with end to end anastomosis case, 3 of 3 in an total laryngectomy case. The result showed an radical operation for thyroid carcinoma invading the laryngotrachea improves the survival rate, but limits improving the cure rate, and the invasion of the thrchea or larynx must be treated whenever possible by an total resection followed by radioiodine and external beam radiation.