ObjectiveTo explore the safety-related factors for total thyroidectomy in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. MethodsThe clinical data of 72 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma treated by total thyroidectomy from January 2002 to January 2010 were retrospectively analyzed, the laryngeal recurrent nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism were observed. ResultsThe incidences of hypoparathyroidism and laryngeal recurrent nerve injury were 15.28% （11/72) and 4.17%（3/72）, respectively. The hypoparathyroidism was significantly related to the thyroid reoperation, the lymph nodes metastases of central compartment, or the extraglandular invasion of the primary tumor (Plt;0.05), but not to the dissection of neck lymph nodes (Pgt;0.05). The laryngeal recurrent nerve injury was not relative to those factors (Pgt;0.05). ConclusionThe safetyrelated factors of total thyroidectomy in differentiated thyroid carcinoma include thyroid reoperation, the lymph node metastasis of central compartment, and the extraglandular invasion of the primary tumor.