Thoracic surgery is the practice of medicine directed toward the surgical treatment of diseases of the chest including coronary artery disease; cancers of the lung, esophagus, and chest wall; abnormalities of the great vessels and heart valves; birth defects of the chest and heart; tumors in the organs contained in the chest cavity; and transplantation of the heart and lungs.

Unlike general surgeons who may operate on most parts of the body, thoracic surgeons concentrate solely upon the following categories

With more than 4,100 members, the Society for Thoracic Surgeons is the largest membership society for thoracic surgeons in the world. Representing the practice areas of cardiothoracic, general thoracic, pediatric thoracic, and transplant surgery, the society is committed to saving, extending, and improving the quality of life for all Americans.