Postoperative follow-up is an important part of the whole treatment process of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). In recent years, the degree of attention to its follow-up mode paid by scholars in relevant fields has increasingly intensified, for which unceasing efforts have also been made by the academic associations at different levels. However, the clear way of thinking and development direction are uncertain so far. The authors, from a clinical perspective, analyze the current situation in postoperative management of DTC, and based on the follow-up patterns in foreign countries and the difficulties encountered during follow-up works, discuss how to develop the postoperative follow-up strategies for DTC in line with China’s conditions.