Video: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Lung Cancer


At Memorial Sloan Kettering, surgeons are the first point of contact for people with lung cancer. Minimally invasive surgical techniques are now commonly used to remove lung tumors, significantly reducing the length of time that patients have to stay in the hospital, and lessening discomfort following the procedure. Many tumors can be removed by making a tiny incision in the chest and inserting a thoracoscope, a flexible tube that is used not only to examine the inside of the chest but also to remove tissue.

Doctors are also evaluating the effectiveness of robotic surgery in people with lung cancer.

Surgeons at Memorial Sloan Kettering perform more than 600 lung operations annually. They work closely with a team of highly trained nurses, pulmonologists, pathologists, interventional radiologists, and other lung cancer specialists to ensure that people receive the best care possible.