Objective: To study the clinical value of central lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma without lymph node metastasis. Methods: Retrospectively analyze clinical data of 119 patients of papillary thyroid carcinoma with central lymph node dissection in First People’s Hospital of Huaian from January 2009 to December 2012. Results: Metastasis was found in 54 of 119 patients treated with lymph node dissection. The incidence were much higher in patients with diameter of tumor>1 cm, age >45, pT3-4 or tumor invaded into thyroid capsule.And,there were no patients with permanent hoarseness and hypoparathyroidism. Conclusion: Central lymph node dissection will not increase incidence of surgical complication. Also this could help to classify accurate tumor stages and to guide postoperative combined treatment.