Thoracic duct is the largest lymphatic vessel in the body. It originates from the chyle pool in the abdominal cavity, upward across aortic hiatus of the diaphragm into the right thoracic cavity, and finally importing into the left jugular vein angle. Thoracic duct plays a very important role in the transporting process of the body's lymph and chylous fluid. More than 70% of the lymph and chylous fluid transport through it into the blood. If the thoracic duct was damaged, it would lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalance, immune dysfunction, malnutrition and the patient's life would be endangered when it was serious. Therefore, the clinical significance of the thoracic duct is always a hot research issue. Through unremitting exploration in recent years, we have a further understanding about structure and function of the thoracic duct. And we used this to remould and ligate it to cure some intractable disease. Now we summarize the research progress as follows.