Piergiorgio Muriana1, Jin Ye Yeo2
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; 2MED Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company
Correspondence to: Jin Ye Yeo. MED Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company. Email: med@amegroups.com
This interview can be cited as: Muriana P, Yeo JY. Readers’ Choice: Author Interview with Dr. Piergiorgio Muriana. Mediastinum. 2025. Available from: https://med.amegroups.org/post/view/readers-rsquo-choice-author-interview-with-dr-piergiorgio-muriana.
Expert introduction
Dr. Piergiorgio Muriana is a thoracic surgeon and researcher currently serving in the Thoracic Surgery Unit at IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele in Milan and is a Contract Professor at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, where he mentors medical students and residents in thoracic surgery. With a specialization in thoracic surgery earned with honors, Dr. Muriana has further honed his skills through advanced training programs in robotic and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) at prestigious institutions worldwide, including Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital and Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. His clinical and research interests focus on thoracic oncology, lung cancer screening, tracheal diseases, invasive diagnostic procedures of the airway (EBUS-TBNA, ENB), and minimally invasive thoracic surgery (VATS and robotic surgery). Dr. Muriana has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and serves on the editorial boards of several international medical journals. He is also actively involved in major research projects, including leading AI-driven lung cancer screening initiatives.
Dr. Muriana’s article, “The role of EBUS-TBNA in lung cancer restaging and mutation analysis”, published in our journal, has received an outstanding readership and entered the journal’s Most Read Article List.
Figure 1 Dr. Piergiorgio Muriana
Interview
MED: What inspired you to pursue a career in thoracic surgery, particularly in thoracic oncology and tracheal diseases?
Dr. Muriana: From the very beginning of my medical studies, I was drawn to surgery because of its direct impact on patient outcomes. The field of thoracic surgery fascinated me due to its complexity and the constant evolution of techniques, especially in oncologic and airway diseases. I had the great fortune of training in a center of recognized excellence for the management and treatment of airway diseases, where I was exposed to highly specialized cases and advanced surgical techniques. This experience further reinforced my passion for this field, particularly for the challenges posed by tracheal diseases, which require innovative and multidisciplinary approaches. Thoracic oncology, on the other hand, is an ever-evolving area where surgical intervention plays a crucial role alongside systemic therapies. These factors motivated me to dedicate my career to this specialty.
PED: Your article, "The role of EBUS-TBNA in lung cancer restaging and mutation analysis," has gained significant readership. What do you think made this article so well-received by readers?
Dr. Muriana: I believe the high readership of this article reflects the growing interest in minimally invasive diagnostic tools in lung cancer management. EBUS-TBNA plays a crucial role in performing molecular analysis and restaging lung cancer without the need for more invasive procedures. The integration of precision medicine into thoracic oncology relies heavily on high-quality tissue sampling, which EBUS-TBNA provides. Our study highlights its clinical relevance, addressing both diagnostic accuracy and its impact on treatment decisions. The increasing adoption of this technique worldwide has likely contributed to the strong reception of our article.
MED: How do you see the role of minimally invasive procedures such as EBUS-TBNA, ENB, VATS, and robotic surgery evolving in thoracic surgery?
Dr. Muriana: Minimally invasive procedures are rapidly transforming thoracic surgery by improving patient outcomes, reducing hospital stays, and minimizing surgical trauma. EBUS-TBNA and ENB are becoming indispensable tools for lung cancer staging and biopsy, allowing for precise diagnosis with minimal discomfort. VATS and robotic-assisted surgery are revolutionizing surgical interventions, enabling more complex procedures to be performed with greater precision and less invasiveness. I anticipate further advancements in robotic surgery, artificial intelligence integration, and real-time intraoperative imaging, which will continue to refine these techniques and expand their applications.
MED: In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges in integrating advanced diagnostic techniques like EBUS-TBNA and ENB into routine clinical practice?
Dr. Muriana: One of the main challenges is ensuring widespread availability and accessibility to these technologies. EBUS-TBNA and ENB require specialized training and equipment, which may not be readily available in all healthcare settings. Standardization of protocols and ensuring reproducibility of results across different centers is another key issue. Additionally, integrating these techniques into multidisciplinary care models and ensuring collaboration between thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, and oncologists is crucial for optimizing patient management. Lastly, cost-effectiveness and reimbursement policies can influence the adoption of these technologies in various healthcare systems.
MED: As a tutor, how do you approach teaching thoracic surgery to future specialist doctors?
Dr. Muriana: Teaching thoracic surgery requires a balance between theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. I emphasize a structured approach that combines anatomy, surgical techniques, and decision-making principles. Simulation-based training and mentoring during real procedures play a fundamental role in skill development. I encourage trainees to actively engage in research and stay updated with evolving techniques. Most importantly, I strive to instill a patient-centered approach, ensuring that young surgeons not only master technical skills but also develop critical thinking and ethical responsibility in their practice.
MED: Looking ahead, what topics or emerging trends in thoracic surgery do you think deserve more attention in academic publishing?
Dr. Muriana: There are several areas that warrant more focus in academic research. The role of artificial intelligence in lung cancer screening, surgical planning, and intraoperative navigation is an exciting field with great potential. Furthermore, advancements in immunotherapy and targeted treatments for lung cancer are reshaping surgical indications, making it essential to explore their impact on surgical outcomes. The development of new minimally invasive techniques, including non-intubated thoracic surgery and novel robotic platforms, also deserves more investigation. Additionally, there is a need for more studies on optimizing perioperative care to enhance recovery and reduce complications.
MED: What made you choose MED to publish your paper? How do you feel about MED as a place to publish research on this topic?
Dr. Muriana: I chose to publish my paper in Mediastinum because of its strong reputation as a peer-reviewed, open-access journal. One of its key strengths is its important indexing, which ensures broad visibility among a specialized audience involved in the diagnosis and treatment of thoracic diseases, as well as those interested in advanced mediastinal diagnostics. This guarantees that research published in Mediastinum reaches professionals who can directly benefit from and apply the findings in clinical practice. These factors made it an ideal choice for disseminating my research.