Thoracic surgeons specialize in surgery of the chest cavity. If you have pleural mesothelioma and you choose to pursue a surgical option, you will probably be referred to a thoracic surgeon.

Surgical procedures can range from a simple thorascopic surgery, in which the surgeon examines a small area of the lung using a thorascope and then taking biopsies of this area. Or, to more extensive surgery, in which a part of a lung is removed (resection), an entire lobe of a lung is removed (lobectomy), or the entire lung is removed (pneumonectomy or the more extensive extrapleural pneumonectomy).

The thoracic surgeon will rely on other members of your medical team to provide support and ensure the most successful results possible.