Quick Facts
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    Expertise:
    Minimally Invasive Procedures
    Pleural Mesothelioma
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    Speciality:
    Pulmonology
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    Gender:
    Male
  • chat box with different language translations icon
    Language:
    English
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    Primary Location:
    Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

Lanfranco plays a key role in the diagnosis and staging of pleural mesothelioma — an often difficult task — and helping to determine a patient’s course of treatment.

He works alongside medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons and pathologists in the multidisciplinary approach that has worked so well for patients at the Abramson Cancer Center.

Much of his work involves diseases of the lungs and a variety of respiratory issues.

As an interventional pulmonologist, he has expertise in several minimally-invasive procedures:

  • A pleurodesis removes excess fluid buildup around the lungs and can prevent future pleural effusions.
  • A thoracoscopy examines the pleural lining of the lungs.
  • A bronchoscopy is another tool commonly used for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.

“When we see patients in our office, one of the biggest things we confront is uncertainty,” Lanfranco said. “There are questions. ‘Am I going to be OK? How could this happen to me?’ We, as a group, try to mediate that by providing timely interventions.”

Contact Dr. Anthony R. Lanfranco

Wearing Many Hats

Lanfranco is the director of bronchoscopy at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. He also is the director of the Interventional Pulmonary Fellowship Program and associate program director of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship, sharing his expertise with medical students.

He is currently an investigator in a clinical trial at Penn Medicine assessing a new technique to examine lung nodules in patients at risk for lung cancer.

“A lot is happening today in the field of interventional pulmonology, taking it from diagnostics and staging to treatment modalities,” Lanfranco said.

One of his other roles today is addressing complications stemming from chemotherapy and radiation.

He has board certification in internal medicine and pulmonary disease. At Penn Medicine, he is involved in the Lung Cancer and Lung Nodule programs, along with the Medical Critical Care Program.

He also has clinical expertise in smoking-related diseases, hemoptysis, emphysema, atelectasis and tracheal stenosis.

Lanfranco is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Thoracic Society and the Association of Interventional Pulmonology Program Directors.

He received his medical degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia. He completed his residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and his fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.