Although the overall prognosis of thyroid cancer is favorable, some patients may still experience persistent, recurrent, or distant metastatic disease after initial standard treatment. Among them, patients with locally advanced thyroid cancer (LATC) have a poorer prognosis, making it a major cause of mortality in thyroid cancer. Analysis of etiology of LATC reveals that most LATC cases arise from the progression of differentiated thyroid cancer. Contributing factors include limitations in preoperative assessment, gradual downgrading of treatment intensity, and the widespread adoption of thermal ablation therapies. Therefore, early standardized management of low-risk thyroid cancer is essential to prevent the development of LATC.