Dr. Wickii Vigneswaran
Thoracic Surgeon at the University of South Florida/Tampa VA Hospital
Dr. Wickii Vigneswaran is a thoracic surgeon and mesothelioma specialist doctor based in Tampa, Florida, at the University of South Florida and James A. Haley VA Hospital. He previously led the mesothelioma program at Loyola University Health System in Chicago. He’s one of the top surgeons for pleural mesothelioma.
Pleural Mesothelioma
University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine/James A. Haley VA Hospital
13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL, 33612
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More About Mesothelioma Specialist Dr. Wickii Vigneswaran
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that usually begins in the lining of the lungs or abdominal cavity. Most cases of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma, which forms in the lining of the lungs.
As an internationall recognized thoracic surgeon, Dr. Vigneswaran is an expert in pleural mesothelioma. He currently is professor at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and sees veterans with mesothelioma through the VA Tampa Healthcare System at the James A. Haley VA Hospital.
Dr. Vigneswaran is one of just a few mesothelioma specialists who works in the VA Healthcare System and sees veterans with this cancer through a VA medical center. His involvement in the VA Tampa Healthcare System is a benefit to any veterans with mesothelioma located in the southeast region of the United States.
Prior to 2024 when he moved to Florida, Dr. Vigneswaran was the Director of Thoracic Surgery at Loyola University Health System, the medical affiliate of Loyola University. Loyola’s health system includes Loyola University Medical Center and Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center.
Dr. Vigneswaran joined Loyola University Health System in 2016 to help build the hospital’s thoracic surgery program after creating the thoracic surgery program at UChicago Medicine, which includes the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“I got into cardiothoracic surgery,” he said of his road to becoming a mesothelioma specialist. “You don’t often come across mesothelioma. … At the University of Chicago, we had a full team for a multidisciplinary approach.
“I produced the same environment at Loyola where I am now.”
Medical Degrees and Residencies
- Medical Degree from University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, India, 1977
- Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, 1993
- Residency in Thoracic Surgery at Royal Infirmary of Glasgow, Scotland, 1981
- Residency in Thoracic Surgery at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland, 1981
- Residency in Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital
Certifications and Memberships
- Certified in cardiothoracic vascular surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
- Membership in the American College of Surgeons
- Past president of the International College of Surgeons
Get Connected to Dr. Wickii Vigneswaran
Dr. Vigneswaran is a top mesothelioma specialist based in Tampa, Florida, and works with veterans with mesothelioma at the James A Haley VA Hospital in Tampa. He previously led mesothelioma treatment at Loyola University, which is one of the top cancer centers for mesothelioma treatment in the midwest.
Why Choose Dr. Vigneswaran?
- Performs radical, life-saving surgery for mesothelioma
- Sees veterans at the Tampa VA hospital
- Neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment with surgery
Working at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, FL
Veterans of the U.S. armed forces account for the largest group of people with mesothelioma. The presence of asbestos on military ships and aircraft led to worrisome levels of exposure. This asbestos exposure is why 33% of all mesothelioma cases involve veterans.
Dr. Vigneswaran sees veterans with mesothelioma through the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, FL. This VA hospital is part of the VA Tampa Healthcare System. It is one of just three VA hospitals in the U.S. with a mesothelioma specialist as part of the team and welcoming veterans for first-class surgery and other treatment. Veterans located in the southeast region of the U.S. should consider going to the Tampa VA hospital to see Dr. Vigneswaran.
Choosing P/D Surgery Over EPP Surgery
Treating mesothelioma involves using one or multiple options: surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy. Surgery is the best option for removing tumors quickly and extending life.
Dr. Vigneswaran is skilled performing both surgeries for pleural mesothelioma: extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery; and pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) surgery.
“I do some extrapleural pneumonectomy but it’s very selective,” he said, “on patients who are younger and have early stage mesothelioma. The majority of my patients are in their 70s or 80s (age) and have other comorbidities. Most of my patients do better with pleurectomy and decortication. The morbidity is much less compared to extrapleural pneumonectomy.”
EPP surgery and P/D surgery differ in whether the lung is taken out during surgery. EPP surgery removes the affected lung, along with the pleural lining where pleural mesothelioma forms. P/D surgery leaves both lungs in while focusing on removing the pleural lining.
Pleural mesothelioma is rare, and not many lung cancer specialists have experience treating this type of cancer. The knowledge and experience of Dr. Vigneswaran and other specialists is essential.
Extended P/D Surgery for Mesothelioma
Dr. Vigneswaran believes in using the extended form of P/D surgery in most cases. This surgery peels the pleural lining off the chest wall and surface of the lungs.
P/D surgery leaves both lungs intact but the extended form takes out the diaphragm and pericardium (lining around the heart).
“Most of the time you have to do the extended pleurectomy/decortication,” he said. “They don’t have early stage disease. They have significant disease. To remove the tumors, you have to do a radical operation.”
Why Dr. Vigneswaran Chooses EPP Surgery for Young Patients
Dr. Vigneswaran prefers EPP surgery for select patients: people younger than 60 years old and with a stage 1 or stage 2 cancer diagnosis. Young patients are more likely to live comfortably with only one lung (without the breathing issues and other comorbidities). Removing one of the lungs when the cancer is localized in stage 1 or stage 2 means there’s a good chance to take out the entire disease.
“If I can aim for a cure, at least to my satisfaction, and they’re young, I’ll consider (extrapleural pneumonectomy),” Dr. Vigneswaran said. “… “I think there are very few patients who you can try for a cure. It’s such a small percentage.”
Since P/D doesn’t remove the lung, most doctors feel it’s best for stage 1 or stage 2 mesothelioma since the tumors haven’t invaded the lung. EPP is considered best for later stages since tumors have spread more. Dr. Vigneswaran feels differently.
“It’s just my philosophy,” Dr. Vigneswaran said. “I feel it has worked really well, but it’s just one way of viewing it. I just think our data on mortality backs up the approach.”
Front Lines of Therapeutic Evolution
As a highly regarded surgeon and researcher, Dr. Vigneswaran is one of the key contributors in the recent emergence of new therapies for malignant mesothelioma. He’s also a stakeholder in future progressions.
Mesothelioma surgery is a prime example of how far care for patients has come. EPP was the only surgical option for decades. P/D surgery has emerged in the past 20-30 years.
Immunotherapy has been a huge benefit for mesothelioma. Two immunotherapy drugs, Opdivo and Yervoy, were approved to treat pleural mesothelioma in 2020. Dr. Vigneswaran believes immunotherapy helps patients who cannot have surgery.
Looking to Targeted Therapy
Dr. Vigneswaran believes the next evolution is targeted therapy.
“It’s nothing concrete,” he said. “We’re trying to figure out what’s the target and what are the effects of targeting the disease.”
An example is CAR T-cell therapy, which is an example of cancer cell and gene therapy. This involves enhancing the patient’s own immune cells to attack cancer cells expressing a specific protein.
“That’s just the beginning. … Targeting the molecular markers is minimal at the moment,” Dr. Vigneswaran said. “That’s the way forward.”
How to Contact Dr. Vigneswaran at University of South Florida
Connecting with Dr. Vigneswaran and his team at the University of South Florida is simple — if you have help from a patient advocate. They can easily get you directly to Dr. Vigneswaran’s office to schedule an in-person or virtual consultation.
Contact a patient advocate for free by clicking that link and filling out your information. You can also fill out our free Doctor Match form at that link to get recommendations for the top specialists in your area, or email our lead patient advocate and registered nurse Karen Ritter at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com.
Sources & Author
- Wickii Vigneswaran. LinkedIn. Retrieved from: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wickii-vigneswaran-411226174/. Accessed: 07/05/2024.
- Thoracic & Cardiovascular Faculty. Loyola Medicine. Retrieved from: https://www.loyolamedicine.org/gme/residencies/thoracic-cardiovascular-surgery/faculty. Accessed: 01/18/2024.
- Wickii T Vigneswaran, MD, MBA, FACS. The Thoracic Surgeon. Retrieved from: https://www.thethoracicsurgeon.com/. Accessed: 09/27/2023.
AI Summary of Dr. Wickii Vigneswaran
Dr. Wickii Vigneswaran is a highly experienced thoracic surgeon who specializes in the treatment of pleural mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that begins in the lining surrounding the lungs. Based at the University of South Florida and the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, Florida, he is known for his expertise in performing advanced surgical procedures aimed at removing tumors and extending patients’ lives. Dr. Vigneswaran has an extensive background in thoracic surgery, having previously led mesothelioma programs at Loyola University Health System in Chicago, where he helped establish a specialized team to treat this complex disease. His work is especially significant for veterans, as many cases of mesothelioma are linked to asbestos exposure encountered during military service, making his presence at the VA hospital critically important.
He primarily sees veterans with mesothelioma through the VA Tampa Healthcare System. His practice focuses on offering advanced surgical options, including pleurectomy and decortication (P/D) surgeries, which are less invasive and suitable for older patients or those with other health conditions. Dr. Vigneswaran prefers to use the extended form of P/D surgery, which involves removing the diseased lining and other affected tissues while keeping the lungs intact. For younger, healthier patients with early-stage disease, he may consider extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery, a more radical procedure that removes one lung along with the lining, aiming for best possible chances of complete disease removal. His approach is guided by ongoing research and a deep understanding of each patient’s unique situation.
Throughout his career, Dr. Vigneswaran has contributed to the evolution of mesothelioma treatment, including the adoption of new therapies such as immunotherapy and promising targeted therapies like CAR T-cell therapy. He is dedicated to staying at the forefront of medical advancements, aiming to improve outcomes and quality of life for those affected by this challenging cancer. Patients and families seeking treatment can find reassurance in his expertise and compassionate approach, knowing they are receiving care from a specialist with extensive experience and a commitment to personalized, cutting-edge treatment strategies. For veterans and others facing mesothelioma, connecting with Dr. Vigneswaran through the VA system offers access to some of the most advanced and thoughtful care available today.