Thoracic Surgery
Surgical treatment of diseases within the chest including the lungs, esophagus, and mediastinum
Thoracic Surgery is the specialty focused on surgical treatment of diseases within the chest including the lungs, esophagus, and mediastinum. OpenDoc keeps the common visit types visible so patients can compare the care path before they book. Transparent pricing on this page currently ranges from $100 to $15,000 across 12 common visit types. Thoracic Surgeons specialize in surgical diseases of the chest — including lung cancer, esophageal disease, and mediastinal tumors. With lung cancer being the leading cause of cancer death in the US, access to a skilled thoracic surgeon is critical. OpenDoc providers offer consultation and second opinion visits starting at $300, giving patients transparent access to surgical expertise before committing to a hospital system where total thoracic procedure costs can exceed $50,000–$150,000.
Not sure where to start? Begin with General Thoracic Surgery Evaluation and OpenDoc will keep the specialty, visit type, and price aligned before anything happens.
Cash-pay context
Why pricing transparency matters here
Thoracic surgery involves some of the highest-cost procedures in medicine, making consultation and second opinion pricing critically important. A $300-$650 cash-pay consultation lets you compare surgical approaches and facility costs before committing to a program where total costs routinely exceed $50,000.
When you usually need this specialty
Common concerns that lead patients into Thoracic Surgery
Lung cancer and pulmonary nodules
Esophageal cancer and Barrett's esophagus
Mediastinal masses and thymoma
Recurrent pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
Pleural effusion requiring surgical management
Chest wall tumors and deformities
Tracheal stenosis and airway disorders
Empyema and complicated chest infections
Hiatal hernia requiring surgical repair
Myasthenia gravis requiring thymectomy
Common care paths
How Thoracic Surgery is organized on OpenDoc
Thoracic Surgery Consultation
Thoracic Surgery Consultation is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking.
Second Opinion Consultation
Second Opinion Consultation is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking.
Pre-Surgical Planning Visit
Pre-Surgical Planning Visit is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking.
Chest CT Review and Interpretation
Chest CT Review and Interpretation is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking.
Mediastinoscopy
Mediastinoscopy is a procedure-oriented thoracic surgery service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens.
Lung Biopsy (CT-Guided)
Lung Biopsy (CT-Guided) is a procedure-oriented thoracic surgery service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens.
Common services & estimated pricing
Review common visit types, transparent cash-pay estimates, and how the care path changes before you move into provider selection.
| Service | Type | Duration | Estimated price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thoracic Surgery Consultation Thoracic Surgery Consultation is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking. | Evaluation | 45–60 min | $300 – $550 |
| Second Opinion Consultation Second Opinion Consultation is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking. | Evaluation | 60 min | $350 – $650 |
| Pre-Surgical Planning Visit Pre-Surgical Planning Visit is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking. | Evaluation | 45–60 min | $250 – $450 |
| Chest CT Review and Interpretation Chest CT Review and Interpretation is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking. | Evaluation | 15–20 min | $100 – $250 |
| Mediastinoscopy Mediastinoscopy is a procedure-oriented thoracic surgery service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens. | Procedure | 60–90 min | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| Lung Biopsy (CT-Guided) Lung Biopsy (CT-Guided) is a procedure-oriented thoracic surgery service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens. | Procedure | 45–60 min | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| VATS Diagnostic Procedure VATS Diagnostic Procedure is a procedure-oriented thoracic surgery service with transparent pricing shown before anything happens. | Procedure | 1–3 hours | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Follow-Up Visit (Post-Surgical) Follow-Up Visit (Post-Surgical) is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking. | Evaluation | 20–30 min | $150 – $300 |
| Chest Tube Placement Consultation Chest Tube Placement Consultation is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking. | Evaluation | 30 min | $200 – $400 |
| Pre-Operative Clearance Assessment Pre-Operative Clearance Assessment is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking. | Evaluation | 30–45 min | $200 – $400 |
| Pulmonary Function Review (Surgical Candidacy) Pulmonary Function Review (Surgical Candidacy) is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking. | Evaluation | 20–30 min | $150 – $300 |
| Esophageal Evaluation (Surgical) Esophageal Evaluation (Surgical) is a common thoracic surgery entry point on OpenDoc with transparent pricing before booking. | Evaluation | 45 min | $300 – $500 |
Pricing methodology: Pricing estimates are modeled from the current OpenDoc specialty taxonomy, visit archetypes, and transparent cash-pay assumptions. Posted provider pricing should be treated as the source of truth whenever it is available.
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Why subspecialty matters
Why OpenDoc separates these care paths instead of collapsing them
Focused training matters
Specialties often branch into narrower care paths. Seeing them clearly helps patients choose providers with training that actually matches the problem.
Prices match the care path
A sports medicine visit, a spine evaluation, and a tumor consult are not the same visit. OpenDoc keeps pricing attached to the path, not just the umbrella specialty.
Less guesswork before booking
Patients should understand the likely route before they see provider cards. That lowers false starts and makes the next step into provider search feel clearer.
Better provider fit
This page keeps specialty, subspecialty, common visit types, and price context aligned so users can move into provider selection with more confidence.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Local discovery
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