Recent advancements have integrated indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging in thyroid surgeries, significantly enhancing the identification and preservation of parathyroid glands. This article reviewed the advancements and applications of ICG fluorescence imaging in locating and assessing the functionality of parathyroid glands in thyroid surgery, outlined the physicochemical characteristics of ICG and its historical utilization in medicine, introduced ICG fluorescence imaging in thyroid surgery, including traditional open thyroid surgery, endoscopic thyroid surgery, and robot-assisted thyroid surgery, and discussed the dosage of ICG, the methodologies for fluorescence scoring, and the enhancement of diagnostic precision through quantitative analysis.