Objective: To evaluate the significance of prophylactic central lymph node dissection in determining the tumor stage and risk stratification of recurrence for cN0 differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Methods: The clinicopathologoic data of 95 patients with cN0 DTC admitted from March to July 2014 undergoing thyroidectomy with prophylactic central lymph node dissection were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among the 95 patients who underwent prophylactic central lymph node dissection, central cervical lymph node metastases was found in 43 cases (45.3%), and of them, TNM stage was increased in 10 cases (10.5%) (I to III stage in 8 cases, and II to III stage in 2), and risk stratification of recurrence was elevated in 39 cases (41.1%). Conclusion: Prophylactic central lymph node dissection can improve the accuracy of classification of TNM stage and risk stratification of recurrence in patients with cN0 DTC, and thereby be helpful in postoperative treatment planning.