In this study of papillary thyroid carcinomas, immunopositivity for EGF-receptor was present in a majority of the cases (96%), although different staining patterns were observed. A distinct membraneous reaction was found in 46%, whereas cytoplasmatic positivity of various degrees was present in 90% of the cases. Strong cytoplasmic EGF-receptor staining was significantly associated with extra-thyroidal growth of the primary tumour (P = 0.009), and it was furthermore related to decreased recurrence free survival (P = 0.006). Membraneous EGF-receptor staining was not associated with recurrence free survival or patient survival. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that lymph node metastases (P = 0.0009) and cytoplasmic EGF-receptor staining (P = 0.0048) was independent indicators of tumour recurrences in this group of surgically treated papillary thyroid carcinomas.