Objective: To investigate the efficacy of concomitant I131 therapy following selective neck dissection in treatment of thyroid cancer (TC) and its influence on the salivary gland function of patients. Methods: Sixty TC patients admitted from January 2009 to September 2013 were selected, and were equally randomized into control group and observational group. Patients in control group underwent conventional thyroidectomy, while those in observational group received additional selective neck dissection and I131 therapy, and this group was further equally divided into high- (3 500 mBq) and low-dose (1 000 mBq) subgroup according to the I131 intake. The treatment efficacy, parameters for salivary gland function and postoperative survival of the patients were analyzed. Results: The initial ablation rate and overall effective rate in observational group were significantly higher than those in control group (both P<0.05); all parameters of salivary gland function in control group were better than those in low-dose subgroup, and in the latter were better than those in high-dose subgroup (all P<0.05). The 5-year survival rate showed no difference between high- and low-dose subgroup of observational group, but both were higher than that in control group (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Concomitant I131 therapy following selective neck dissection can effectively improve the surgical efficacy and prognosis in TC patients, and although it exerts adverse effects on salivary gland function, the symptoms caused by low dose treatment are mild and are within the acceptable limits for the patients.