The cure rate of iodine 131 for papillary thyroid cancer is generally above 50%, and it needs to be chosen according to the patient’s condition and stage. Iodine 131 can be applied to the treatment of thyroid cancer, in which papillary cancer has lower malignant degree, and the cure rate is relatively high among various types, and the overall cure rate can reach more than 50%. Surgery is the first choice for papillary thyroid cancer after diagnosis, and for most of the stage I and stage II thyroid cancer, the cure rate is over 90%, and for those who have combined lymph node metastasis after surgery, adjuvant iodine 131 treatment can be considered. For papillary cancer that cannot be operated, iodine 131 treatment is preferred, and the cure rate is generally around 50%, and regular review should be conducted after treatment. It can be seen that the cure rate of iodine 131 for papillary thyroid cancer is not fixed, and individualized treatment plan should be formulated according to the condition.