Abstract: Using the prestack depth migration technology based on integral method of ray theory to areas with complex geologic structures (e.g. salt dome, overthrust nappe, etc.) and severe lateral velocity variation tends to influencing exact recognition of underground geologic bodies due to seismic imaging condition restrictions. This paper analyzes the imaging theory and its merits of reverse time migration (RTM) based on theory of wave, and gets better imaging effects in practice. In order to increase the RTM adaptability, a variety of seismic data are selected to test. The result shows that RTM is an effective technology for improving the imaging of salt dome and structures under overthrust nappe. In areas with little change of velocity and uncomplicated wave field, using RTM can effectively maintain the amplitude of seismic reflection signals, although the imaging improvement obtained by RTM is not obvious