[Injuries of the thoracic duct during neck surgery]

Although rarely published, operative injuries to thoracic duct in neck are by no means exceptional, and can occur during all types of surgery to lower cervical and supraclavicular regions. A case is reported and used as a basis for an analysis of diagnostic means and therapeutic possibilities of injuries detected during operation or those developing manifestations at a later stage. In the case reported, long-term medical treatment resulted in arrest of lymphorrhea within 37 days.