Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a congenital cardiac disease that occurs in up to 25% of the general adults, and up to 46% of young adults with cryptogenic stroke(CS). PFO is associated with several diseases, the most important of which is stroke. Stroke associated with PFO is usually classified as CS, and currently paradoxical embolism caused by PFO is believed to be the most common pathogenic mechanism. The features, diagnoses and treatments of PFO related CS have been paid more and more attention. This article reviews the related research advance in recent years, to provide new clinical evidences and strategies for the diagnoses and treatments of CS associated with PFO.