Our Expertise — Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital

Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital performs more thoracic surgeries than virtually any center in the world. Our surgeons operate 30–40 times per day across 12 operating rooms, bringing an unmatched depth of experience to both common and rare thoracic conditions.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

VATS & Uniportal Techniques

Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital is a pioneer in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and uniportal techniques in China. Our surgeons routinely perform complex thoracic procedures through a single small incision — typically 3–4 cm.

Benefits for patients include significantly less post-operative pain, shorter hospital stays (typically 3–5 days versus 7–10 for open surgery), faster return to normal activities, and minimal scarring.

Our minimally invasive approach is applied across the full spectrum of thoracic conditions, from wedge resections for small nodules to complex lobectomies and segmentectomies for lung cancer.

Advanced surgical technology for lung cancer treatment

Oncology

Lung Cancer: Comprehensive Diagnosis & Treatment

As a national clinical key specialty in oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital offers the full continuum of lung cancer care — from screening and early detection through surgical treatment, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted molecular therapy.

Our multidisciplinary tumor board brings together thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and radiologists to develop individualized treatment plans for each patient.

With one of the world's highest case volumes, our team has deep experience with both common and rare presentations, including complex cases involving central tumors, chest wall invasion, and oligometastatic disease.

Pulmonary Nodules

Ground-Glass Nodule Management

With the widespread adoption of CT screening, pulmonary nodules — particularly ground-glass nodules (GGNs) — are being discovered in increasing numbers worldwide. Many patients face uncertainty about whether their nodule requires monitoring, biopsy, or surgical intervention.

Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital's experts authored China's national consensus guidelines for managing ground-glass nodules suspected as lung adenocarcinoma, published in collaboration with leading cancer centers across China.

Our Pulmonary Nodule Fast-Track program provides a definitive answer within 72 hours: high-resolution CT imaging, expert multidisciplinary review, and a clear recommendation for your next steps.

Surgical team performing complex thoracic procedure

Transplantation

Lung Transplantation

Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital has been at the forefront of lung transplantation in China since performing Asia's first allogeneic lung transplant in an elderly patient in 2003.

Our transplant program, supported by the Shanghai Lung Transplant Engineering Research Center, offers evaluation and surgical management for patients with end-stage lung disease, including pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, and pulmonary hypertension.

Additional Specialties

Beyond Thoracic Surgery

Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine

Comprehensive non-surgical pulmonary expertise including interstitial lung disease, COPD, asthma, and complex infectious disease. A Shanghai clinical key specialty.

Tuberculosis & Infectious Disease

Shanghai's designated TB treatment center with a dedicated on-campus facility, continuing a specialty dating back to our 1933 founding mission.

Occupational & Environmental Lung Disease

As Shanghai's designated occupational disease prevention hospital, we have unique expertise in pneumoconiosis, occupational poisoning, radiation injury, and environmental lung conditions.

Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine

A national "flagship" department combining traditional Chinese medicine with modern Western treatment approaches for respiratory and pulmonary conditions.

Specialized Thoracic & Pulmonary Care