Thoracic Surgery at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center | CMCS

Expert Lung, Esophageal & Thoracic Cancer Surgery in Shanghai

The Department of Thoracic Surgery at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) is one of China's most distinguished centers for the surgical management of lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumors, pleural mesothelioma, and other thoracic malignancies. With one of the highest volumes of thoracic cancer surgery in China, the department combines surgical excellence with a world-class research program and a fully integrated multidisciplinary approach, offering international patients access to the latest minimally invasive techniques, precision oncology, and clinical trials for thoracic cancers.

For international patients with lung cancer, esophageal cancer, or another thoracic malignancy — whether seeking surgical treatment, a second opinion, or access to novel therapies — FUSCC's thoracic surgery department offers an unparalleled combination of expertise, volume, and research leadership. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless end-to-end coordination for international patients throughout their care journey at FUSCC.

About the Department

FUSCC's thoracic surgery department is a national key clinical specialty performing thousands of thoracic cancer operations annually, including one of the highest volumes of lung cancer resection in Shanghai. The department operates dedicated thoracic surgical wards, a comprehensive outpatient thoracic oncology clinic, a thoracic cancer MDT, a minimally invasive thoracic surgery program, and works in close collaboration with medical oncology, radiation oncology, pulmonology, pathology, and molecular diagnostics through a fully integrated multidisciplinary team.

Faculty members publish regularly in leading thoracic oncology journals including Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and Lung Cancer.

Conditions Treated

Lung Cancer

• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) — Surgical — Lobectomy, segmentectomy, and wedge resection; VATS and robotic-assisted resection; sleeve lobectomy for central tumors; pneumonectomy for locally advanced disease; mediastinal lymph node dissection
• Stage I-II NSCLC — Minimally invasive lobectomy or segmentectomy; adjuvant osimertinib for EGFR-mutated stage IB-IIIA; adjuvant atezolizumab for PD-L1 ≥50%; adjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk stage II
• Stage III NSCLC — Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy followed by surgery; concurrent chemoradiation; durvalumab consolidation for unresectable stage III
• Pulmonary Nodule Management — CT-guided localization and VATS resection for subcentimeter nodules; ground-glass opacity (GGO) management; lung cancer screening program
• Carcinoid & Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Lung — Surgical resection; somatostatin analogues and PRRT for advanced disease
• Pulmonary Metastasectomy — Surgical resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal, sarcoma, and other primaries

Esophageal Cancer

• Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma — Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE); Ivor Lewis, McKeown, and transhiatal approaches; neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CROSS protocol); neoadjuvant chemotherapy + nivolumab; adjuvant nivolumab for residual disease (CheckMate 577)
• Esophageal Adenocarcinoma & GEJ Cancer — Perioperative FLOT chemotherapy; neoadjuvant chemoradiation; minimally invasive esophagectomy
• Early Esophageal Cancer — Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for T1a disease in collaboration with gastroenterology; surgical resection for T1b disease
• Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer — Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy; conversion surgery for initially unresectable disease
• Recurrent & Metastatic Esophageal Cancer — Nivolumab + chemotherapy; pembrolizumab for PD-L1-positive; ramucirumab + paclitaxel second-line

Mediastinal Tumors

• Thymoma & Thymic Carcinoma — VATS and robotic thymectomy for early-stage thymoma; extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis; multimodality treatment for advanced thymic carcinoma; pembrolizumab for recurrent thymic carcinoma
• Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumors — BEP chemotherapy followed by surgical resection of residual mass
• Mediastinal Lymphoma — Biopsy and chemotherapy coordination with hematology
• Neurogenic Tumors — Schwannoma, neurofibroma, and ganglioneuroma; VATS resection
• Mediastinal Cysts — Bronchogenic, pericardial, and enteric cysts; VATS resection

Pleural Disease

• Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma — Pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) and extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP); nivolumab + ipilimumab; platinum-pemetrexed chemotherapy
• Malignant Pleural Effusion — VATS pleurodesis and indwelling pleural catheter
• Pleural Metastases — Surgical and interventional management

Chest Wall & Diaphragm

• Chest Wall Tumors — Primary and metastatic chest wall tumors; en bloc resection with chest wall reconstruction using mesh and custom implants
• Diaphragmatic Tumors — Surgical resection and reconstruction

Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery

FUSCC's thoracic surgery department has been at the forefront of minimally invasive thoracic surgery adoption in China, offering:

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)

• Uniportal VATS Lobectomy — Single-incision VATS lobectomy through a 3-4cm incision; minimal trauma, rapid recovery, reduced pain
• VATS Segmentectomy — Anatomical segmentectomy for small peripheral tumors and GGO lesions; lung parenchyma preservation
• VATS Esophagectomy — Thoracoscopic component of minimally invasive esophagectomy
• VATS Thymectomy — For thymoma and myasthenia gravis
• VATS Mediastinal Tumor Resection — For neurogenic tumors, cysts, and other mediastinal masses

Robotic Thoracic Surgery

• Robotic Lobectomy & Segmentectomy — da Vinci robotic lung resection with enhanced 3D visualization and instrument dexterity
• Robotic Esophagectomy — Robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy
• Robotic Thymectomy — For thymoma and extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis

Lung Cancer Precision Oncology

FUSCC's thoracic oncology program integrates comprehensive molecular profiling into the management of every lung cancer patient:

• Comprehensive Genomic Profiling — NGS panel testing for EGFR, ALK, ROS1, KRAS G12C, MET exon 14, RET, NTRK, BRAF V600E, HER2, and other actionable alterations
• Liquid Biopsy — ctDNA testing for treatment monitoring, resistance mechanism identification, and minimal residual disease detection after surgery
• PD-L1 & TMB Testing — Biomarker-guided immunotherapy selection
• Adjuvant Targeted Therapy — Osimertinib for EGFR-mutated stage IB-IIIA NSCLC after resection; alectinib for ALK-positive resected NSCLC
• Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy — Nivolumab + chemotherapy (CheckMate 816); pembrolizumab + chemotherapy for resectable stage II-IIIA NSCLC

Thoracic Cancer MDT

All thoracic cancer cases at FUSCC are reviewed by the thoracic cancer MDT, integrating thoracic surgical, medical oncological, radiation oncological, pulmonological, radiological, nuclear medicine, and pathological expertise to develop personalized treatment plans. The MDT is particularly important for:

• Stage III NSCLC — surgery vs. chemoradiation vs. trimodality therapy
• Esophageal cancer — neoadjuvant therapy selection and surgical approach
• Pulmonary nodules — surveillance vs. biopsy vs. resection
• Oligometastatic NSCLC — local ablative therapy vs. systemic therapy

Why International Patients Choose FUSCC Thoracic Surgery

• High-Volume Expertise — One of Shanghai's highest-volume thoracic cancer surgery programs with outcomes benchmarked against international standards
• Minimally Invasive Leadership — Uniportal VATS and robotic thoracic surgery as routine offerings
• Precision Oncology Integration — Comprehensive molecular profiling guiding adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy decisions
• Esophageal Cancer Expertise — Minimally invasive esophagectomy with neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy
• Clinical Trial Access — Active participation in trials for novel targeted and immunotherapy agents for thoracic cancers
• Cost-Effectiveness — World-class thoracic cancer care at significantly lower cost than equivalent treatment in Western countries

The CMCS Patient Journey

1. Initial Inquiry — Share your diagnosis, CT/PET-CT scans, biopsy pathology, molecular profiling (EGFR, ALK, PD-L1, etc.), and prior treatment history with CMCS.
2. Medical Record Preparation — We translate and organize your records for specialist pre-consultation review.
3. Specialist Matching — We identify the most appropriate thoracic surgeon based on your tumor type — lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumor, or mesothelioma.
4. MDT Submission — Where appropriate, we facilitate pre-arrival case review by FUSCC's thoracic cancer MDT.
5. Priority Scheduling — We secure a consultation and surgical slot with minimal waiting time.
6. Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accommodation near FUSCC, and Shanghai airport transfers.
7. Surgical Admission Support — Full coordination of pre-operative assessment, neoadjuvant therapy scheduling if required, admission, and inpatient care.
8. Post-Operative Follow-Up — Pathology and molecular profiling report translation, adjuvant therapy coordination, and remote follow-up after you return home.

Book a Consultation

If you are seeking expert thoracic cancer care in Shanghai — whether for lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumors, mesothelioma, or a second opinion on a thoracic diagnosis — CMCS can arrange a specialist consultation with FUSCC's thoracic surgery team.

📧 contract@medicalsh.com
💬 WhatsApp: https://wa.me/message/3AM6KAGCW2BAD1
🌐 www.medicalsh.com