Objective To investigate the expressions of β-catenin and vitamin D receptor (VDR) in differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and to analyze their relationships with postoperative recurrence.Methods Clinical data of 185 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma surgically treated from July 2009 to July 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients received surgical treatment including total/subtotal thyroidectomy in 101 cases with cervical lymph node dissection in 82, glandular lobectomy plus isthmus lobectomy in 80 cases with cervical lymph node dissection in 65, and local extensive thyroidectomy with cervical lymph node dissection in 4. Immunohistochemistry (SP) was used to detect the expressions of β-catenin and VDR in cancer tissues and normal tissues. The positive expression rates of β-catenin and VDR were compared between patients with and without recurrence. The risk factors of postoperative recurrence were analyzed.Results The positive expression rates of β-catenin and VDR protein were 75.68% and 35.68% in cancer tissues, and 62.70% and 67.03% in normal tissues, respectively, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The mean follow-up time was (4.52±1.01) years (range 1-10.5 years), and the recurrence rate was 10.81%. The positive expression rate of β-catenin protein in recurrent patients was higher than that in nonrecurrent patients (P<0.05), and the positive expression rate of VDR protein in recurrent patients was lower than that of nonrecurrent patients (P<0.05). Clinical stage III, adenoidectomy plus isthmus lobectomy, positive expression of β-catenin protein and negative expression of VDR protein were independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer (all P<0.05), while cervical lymph node dissection and postoperative adjuvant therapy were protective factors (both P<0.05).Conclusions In differentiated thyroid carcinoma, the positive expression rate of β-catenin protein is higher and that of VDR protein is lower than those in normal tissue, which is more distinct in the recurrent patients. The positive expression of β-catenin protein and negative expression of VDR protein and clinical stage III, adenoidectomy plus isthmus lobectomy are risk factors in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Cervical lymph node dissection and postoperative adjuvant therapy may reduce the risk of recurrence.