ObjectiveTo evaluate the risk factors for central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) of cN0 staging. MethodsClinical data of 94 patients with cN0 PTC in Guangdong General Hospital who underwent thyroidectomy with prophylactic central node dissection (pCND) from March to July in 2014 were collected to analyze the risk factors of CLNM by using univariate and multivariate analysis methods. ResultsCLNM was found in 43 patients (45.7%). Multivariate analysis results showed that, the CLNM rate of patients with age < 45 years, tumor located in front of lobe by ultrasound, diameter of tumor > 2 cm, capsular invasion, and total number of central lymph node dissected > 3 were significantly higher (P < 0.05). ConclusionAge < 45 years, tumor located in front of lobe by ultrasound, and diameter of tumor > 2 cm are the risk factors of CLNM in patients with cN0 PTC, pCND should be performed for patients with some of the above risk factors.