His goal is a minimally invasive treatment program for thoracic malignancies, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. He’s succeeded in using CT scans to detect and analyze small non-small lung cancers, and treating malignant pleural effusions with hyperthermic pleural lavage. He’s applying proteomics to diagnose malignant mesothelioma based on the pleural fluid of patients exposed to high asbestos levels.
Trimodal Therapy
Quick Fact
Throughout his career, Miller has completed surgeries such as laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery, lobectomy and lung transplantation.
His main focus is utilizing trimodal therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma, in which induction chemotherapy is given, followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy (removing affected lung tissue, along with affected diaphragm, chest and/or heart lining portions) and then adjuvant radiation.
Miller, who has received numerous honors and awards for his work, and his Emory colleagues have their own recommendations for treating malignant mesothelioma.
“Our preference is single-port thoracoscopy at the time of diagnosis,” Miller said. “We also recommend delaying any chemical pleurodesis until the postchemotherapy mediastinoscopy assessment.”
I think for all of us who deal with mesothelioma, the number one objective is to have the patient to complete trimodality therapy as planned, which offers the best chance for cure.”
– Daniel Miller M.D.
Miller’s Publications
Miller’s publications primarily address surgical topics for lung cancer, mesothelioma and other related malignancies. In 2011, his article “Impact of Laterality on Early and Late Survival after Pneumonectomy” was published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
