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Clinics & Departments

Thoracic Center

Our Treatments｜Features of the Center｜Doctors and Staff

Our Treatments

The Thoracic Center provides diagnosis and treatment of various cancers in the chest, mainly lung cancer, as listed below.

  1. Lung cancer
  2. Mediastinal tumors (e.g. thymic tumors)
  3. Chest wall tumors (e.g. pleural mesotheliomas)
  4. Metastatic lung tumors (We diagnose lung metastases from various primary sites and perform surgery for patients indicated for surgical treatment.)

The following treatment methods are applied alone or in combination.

  1. Surgical treatment
    Treatment in which lesions are resected by surgery
  2. Radiotherapy
    Treatment in which radiation is delivered to lesions in order to destroy cancer cells
    Depending on the disease condition, we choose the most appropriate way of irradiation including normal irradiation, pinpoint irradiation, and irradiation from the inside of the bronchus.
    For detailed information, please visit Radiation Oncology Department.
  3. Chemotherapy
    Treatment to shrink a cancer with anticancer drugs
  4. Multidisciplinary treatment
    Treatment in which above methods are combined: chemotherapy followed by surgery, chemotherapy with simultaneous or sequential radiotherapy, and so on

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Features of the Center

Since we always try to provide the latest, appropriate, and safe treatment based on rapid and accurate diagnosis, regular conferences are held among the specialists in diagnosis and treatment in order to discuss the cases. In the Thoracic Center, we work as a team consisting of specialists in the Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Thoracic Surgical Oncology, and Radiation Oncology.

Rapidity

We try to make a definitive diagnosis and examinations on the progression of cancer, and to determine the treatment plan within 3 to 4 weeks from the first visit. We also make an effort to propose the most suitable treatment.

Accurate and Comprehensive Diagnosis

We try to make a reliable diagnosis using advanced knowledge and the latest technologies such as CT, endoscopy (bronchoscopy), CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy, MRI, scintigraphy, and PET. In addition, we cooperate closely with Pathology Department and Cytology Department to improve accuracy of diagnosis. These departments play an important role in cancer diagnosis and have high-quality diagnosis techniques. To make a comprehensive diagnosis and propose the most suitable treatment plan, discussions are held among medical oncologists, surgeons and radiologists involved in diagnosis and treatment, in addition to the doctor in charge. We have a system in which no biased medical care is provided by an individual doctor in charge based only on his/her own judgment.

Sufficient Explanation

We try to take sufficient time to explain about the disease and treatment plans including the disease name, its diagnosis, latest treatment options, possible clinical trials, and effects and risks expected from the treatment. After not only the patients but also their families fully understand the explanation, we provide treatment. We do not give patients explanations emphasizing only the advantages of the treatment, but let them know fully the correct information about the disease.

The Best Medical Care

In our center, skillful doctors with abundant experience and knowledge provide top-level medical care.

Complete Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

In thoracoscopic surgery, only a few holes are made in the chest, but it often results in is about 5-to-10 centimeter wound. We perform complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery that makes a wound measuring only 3 to 4 centimeters, after carefully considering its indications to the patients. Generally, it is given to patients with relatively early lung cancer, and this surgery accounts for 40% for total lung surgeries in our hospital.

Functional Preservation Surgery

We try not to resect tissues as much as possible to preserve lung function, if the remaining tissues do not affect cancer treatment. We actively perform not only lobectomy (the standard surgery) but also segmentectomy and partial resection to preserve the lung. We also often perform Lymphadenectomy which contributes to the good outcome of the surgery and reduce the risk of lymph node metastases.

New Treatments and Diagnostic Methods

We actively conduct clinical studies of new treatments and diagnostic methods if patients consent. In addition, we participate in the biggest large-scale clinical studies in Japan, such as those conducted by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group.

Safety

We fully examine risks of the planned treatment beforehand, and place the greatest emphasis on safety in treatment. Experienced specialists in each field provide treatment with sufficient care. In surgery, the critical path, which is a postoperative management method, is always used. Critical path makes both surgery and postoperative management extremely safe.

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