Chylothorax is a common complication after radical surgery for lung cancer. Chylothorax after lung cancer surgery can lead to a large loss of serum albumin immunoglobulin fat soluble vitamins minerals immune cells and immune factors resulting in protein energy malnutrition fatsoluble vitamin deficiency electrolyte disorder severe infection and other complications. The mortality rate is high and timely and correct intervention is needed. The diagnosis of chylothorax still lacks a unified standard and there are various treatment methods for chylothorax. In recent years the view that the first line treatment for chylothorax is nutritional therapy has become increasingly recognized. However there are various ways and means of nutritional therapy including special natural diet oral nutrition supplementation enteral nutrition supplementary parenteral nutrition and total parenteral nutrition. This article reviews the diagnostic criteria localization diagnostic methods and various treatment methods for postoperative chylothorax in lung cancer with a focus on the latest research progress and methods of nutritional therapy. It also elaborates on the advantages and problems of different nutritional therapy methods and provides multiple implementation methods for different nutritional regimens providing reference for further standardized treatment in clinical practice improving patient nutritional status and accelerating the recovery of chylothorax.