Thoracic Oncology

The Massachusetts General Hospital Thoracic Oncology Center (MTOC) is a multidisciplinary program established to evaluate patients with all types of thoracic cancers.

Clinicians use a collaborative approach to provide consultations, second opinions, and/or treatment for patients with confirmed or suspected thoracic malignancies. Patients who come to MTOC have access to the latest clinical trials and treatments.

Multidisciplinary Approach

Our thoracic oncology program involves representatives from thoracic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, nursing, social work services, and physical and respiratory therapy.

Each patient is individually assessed in a comprehensive fashion by representatives of each discipline. Radiological exams such as x-rays are reviewed by the hospital's chest radiologists and pathology slides are reviewed by the hospital's pathology department. This comprehensive approach often let you be seen by all of the disciplines in a single setting.

Treatment Plans

An optimal treatment plan is provided with input from all members of the team. The latest and most therapeutic treatment options are offered, along with the standard or conventional treatment.

Clinical Trials

Because cancers in the chest sometimes have poor responses to standard or conventional treatments, the surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists work together to explore new and innovative ways to treat thoracic cancers using accepted scientific methods referred to as clinical trials.

The patient who comes to MTOC will often be offered a clinical trial as one of his or her treatment options.

Once a treatment plan has been determined, we communicate with you and your and family as well as your primary and referring doctors.