Specialized cancer surgeries at Penn Medicine
Penn Medicine offers advanced surgical care for many types of cancer. Our surgeons use open, minimally invasive, and robotic techniques to match the approach to the needs of each patient and condition. Whenever possible, we focus on removing cancer while protecting healthy tissue and function.
Our thoracic surgeons offer advanced options for lung cancer care, including lobectomy performed traditionally or via video or robot assistance. For patients in need of a new and healthy lung, our world-class lung transplant team brings decades of experience and optimal outcomes.
Our neurosurgical team performs skull base surgery to treat complex brain and skull base tumors, including glioblastoma. Penn Medicine is home to a Translational Center of Excellence focused on improving care for this aggressive cancer. We also offer stereotactic radiosurgery with blade-free treatment options including Gamma Knife. Our specialists manage more than 500 skull base tumor cases each year, bringing deep experience to complex procedures.
Penn Medicine is a leader in head and neck cancer care and head and neck surgery. Our surgeons developed transoral robotic surgery (TORS) to access hard-to-reach areas in the throat without large external incisions, helping to preserve speech and swallowing functions. We perform more TORS procedures than any other program in the world.
We treat melanoma and other skin cancers with surgery and coordinated care. Our dermatologic surgeons offer precise removal of skin cancers using Mohs surgery, a procedure that removes cancer layer by layer while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
We offer a full range of colorectal procedures, including minimally invasive and robotic techniques, to treat colon and rectal cancers. For selected patients, we provide combination treatments such as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in tandem with tumor removal surgery. Whenever feasible, we perform minimally invasive procedures like transanal surgery for early-stage tumors.
Our breast cancer care team performs lumpectomy and mastectomy using advanced imaging and localization tools such as SAVI SCOUT. Reconstructive surgeons work closely with the cancer team to offer immediate or delayed breast reconstruction, supporting both physical and emotional recovery.
Penn Medicine’s gastrointestinal cancer care specialists team up with highly skilled gastrointestinal surgeons to provide minimally invasive gastrectomy for stomach cancer and surgery for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). We also remove colon polyps and other precancerous growths during colonoscopy, helping prevent cancer before it develops.
Our surgeons perform a high volume of complex hepatobiliary and pancreas procedures. The Whipple procedure, one of the most complex operations for pancreatic cancer, is performed by highly experienced teams, with a focus on precision, safety, and coordinated care.
Penn Medicine is a national leader in liver transplant, offering advanced surgical techniques, access to living donor options, and care from one of the most experienced transplant programs in the region. Our pancreas transplant program is known worldwide for its research and innovations. These intensive procedures are supported by multidisciplinary teams experienced in managing advanced disease.
We offer specialized surgery for sarcoma and other rare cancers affecting bone and soft tissue. Our surgeons focus on limb-sparing approaches whenever possible and work closely with medical and radiation oncologists to design personalized treatment plans.
Penn Medicine’s thyroid surgery team performs a high volume of procedures to remove thyroid and parathyroid cancers while aiming to preserve the vocal cords and nerves that control voice and swallowing. Because they regularly perform complex thyroidectomies and parathyroidectomies, our surgeons bring deep experience and careful technique to every case, helping minimize risks and support better outcomes.
Our specialists offer advanced minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgery for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and paragangliomas, helping reduce recovery time while preserving healthy tissue whenever possible. Surgeons work closely with experts in endocrinology, medical oncology, and imaging to tailor treatment based on each tumor’s behavior and location. For gastrointestinal NETs, care is coordinated with GI cancer specialists to ensure a comprehensive approach that may include surgery, medical therapies, and long-term monitoring.
Our gynecologic surgery and gynecologic cancer care teams collaborate to perform minimally invasive and robotic procedures whenever possible to diagnose and treat cancers of the uterus, ovaries, cervix, and related structures. These approaches aim to reduce pain, preserve function, and shorten recovery. Surgeons work closely with medical and radiation oncologists to develop personalized treatment plans that support both cancer control and long-term quality of life.
Penn Medicine is a national leader in robotic-assisted urologic surgery for urologic cancer care, with experienced surgeons who perform a high volume of prostate, kidney, bladder, and testicular procedures using techniques designed to support cancer control and quality of life. We offer advanced, minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment options including transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) and emerging therapies such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a non-invasive outpatient procedure for selected prostate cancers.