Thoracic & Esophageal Surgery Second Opinions

Independent surgical assessment

Understand your diagnosis and your options

When you have been advised to consider surgery, another assessment can help you understand whether an operation is appropriate, what alternatives are available, and which questions to discuss with your treating team.

Merrimack Thoracic & Esophageal Surgery offers second-opinion consultations with Dr. Paresh Mane for patients in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. We review your diagnosis, previous treatment, and relevant testing to help you make an informed decision.

Conditions we review

• Lung nodules and lung cancer, including questions about whether surgery is appropriate.
• Esophageal cancer and the role of surgery within a coordinated treatment plan.
• GERD, hiatal hernias, and paraesophageal hernias.
• Persistent or recurrent symptoms after fundoplication, hernia repair, or other esophageal surgery.
• Selected other thoracic conditions, including thoracic outlet syndrome, diaphragm paralysis, and pectus excavatum.

The office confirms whether your question falls within our surgical expertise. When another specialty is needed, we can help identify the appropriate next step.

What to expect

1. Contact the office. We review the reason for your request, the records needed, appointment options, and applicable insurance or self-pay requirements.
2. Arrange a secure records review. Relevant materials may include imaging, pathology, endoscopy reports, prior operative reports, and your current treatment plan. The office explains how to provide them securely.
3. Discuss the surgical question. Your consultation addresses whether surgery is appropriate, possible alternatives, operative approaches, and the benefits and risks relevant to your situation. An examination or additional testing may be needed before a recommendation can be made.
4. Receive a written assessment. You receive a summary of the opinion and recommended next steps to discuss with your treating team. We can share it with your clinicians with your permission.

Insurance and payment

Second-opinion consultations may be covered by Medicare or other health insurance, depending on the service, your benefits, and applicable requirements. Our office reviews coverage, referral or authorization requirements, and expected patient responsibility before your appointment. Verification does not guarantee payment by your insurer.

Self-pay options are available to uninsured patients and in other circumstances where permitted. Eligibility and expected charges are discussed in advance, and a written Good Faith Estimate is provided when required. Contact our office to discuss your situation.

View our current self-pay office-visit fee schedule for eligible patients. These are professional office-visit rates, not a fixed second-opinion package price. Hospital or facility fees, testing, procedures, and services from other clinicians may be billed separately.

Consultation scope and follow-up

The opinion is based on the records available and the clinical evaluation. Missing information or new findings may change the recommendations. We explain any remaining uncertainty and whether further evaluation is needed.

A second-opinion visit does not automatically transfer ongoing care to our practice. Continue working with your current treating team unless a different care arrangement is agreed. If you choose care with our practice, we will discuss the evaluation, treatment, and follow-up plan with you.

Before your consultation, the office will explain how to ask questions about the written assessment, what follow-up is included, and whether further visits or separately billed services may be needed.

Appointment availability

Our practice serves Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, including the Merrimack Valley and the Salem, Derry, Manchester, and Concord communities. The office will confirm the consultation location and available appointments.

If a remote consultation is requested, eligibility depends on your physical location at the time of the appointment, the physician's authority to practice there, clinical suitability, and applicable coverage requirements. The office confirms these details before scheduling.