Objective To summarize the clinical and pathological manifestation, therapy, and prognosis of primary thyroid lymphoma(PTL). Methods The clinical and pathological data of 20 patients with PTL treated in our hospital from Jan.2002 to Feb.2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Of the 20 patients, 14 patients were female, 6 patients were male. The median age were 63.5 years old (45-77 years old). Seven patients (35.0%) were diffused large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and 12 patients (60.0%) were extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, 1 patient (5.0%) was follicular lymphoma (FL). Twelve patients complicated with Hashimoto thyroiditis. Six patients(30.0%) accepted surgery only, 13 patients(65.0%) were supplemented with chemotherapy and (or) radiotherapy, 1 patient (5.0%) accepted chemotherapy and radiotherapy only. Two patients lost during follow-up, but 18 patients were followed-up for 6-104 months with the median time of 46.5 months. During the follow-up period, 6 patients died of PTL. The cumulative survival rates of 2-year and 5-year were 74.4% and 66.9%, respectively. Conclusion Most PTL are B-cell original non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In order to get good prognosis, chemotherapy and (or) radiotherapy are mostly needed, while surgery is performed for definitive pathological diagnosis.