Multiple foci are important clinical characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). In recent years, with the increasing elaboration in diagnosis and treatment modalities for PTC, the diagnosis and treatment modalities will certainly be different between multiple focal PTC and the single focal PTC. To date, the investigations in multifocal PTC (MPTC) are still in progress at home and abroad. Here, the authors address MPTC in respects of the origin of disease, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment.