The Mount Sinai Thoracic Oncology Service, a sub-specialty program of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine of Mount Sinai’s Department of Medicine, provides state-of the-art, personalized, compassionate, and multidisciplinary medical care to patients suffering from thoracic malignancies. Close interaction between pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and palliative care physicians insure that inpatient and outpatient oncologic care provided in a seamless, coordinated manner. Patient comfort, convenient access, and cost-efficient delivery systems are emphasized. The Thoracic Oncology Service is also committed to the development of basic science and clinical research programs and professional development through its fellowship programs.

Complete evaluation is available including CT scan, PET scan, fiberoptic and rigid bronchoscopy, video-assisted thoracoscopy, and open lung biopsy with an expert pulmonary pathologist on site for diagnosis and referral. Treatment options include surgery, radiation (external beam and brachytherapy), chemotherapy and endobronchial laser with or without bronchial stenting.

There is specialized interest in the treatment of mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura) or abdomen (the peritoneum). Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos.

In addition to medical oncology treatment and chemotherapy options, there are new approaches for the treatment of patients with mesothelioma. These include a small catheter approach to improve quality of life for patients with malignant pleural effusions. Usually, no hospital stay is required.