Pediatric thoracic surgeons who aren't certified to do cardiac procedures primarily focus on treating conditions that affect the organs within the chest wall, including the lungs, esophagus and diaphragm.
Young patients who suffer from pneumonia and develop complications as a result may need the services of a pediatric thoracic surgeon. Doctors who specialize in this field of medicine may do biopsies to remove samples of body tissue if they suspect that a patient may have cancer and will also treat congenital abnormalities and remove tumors.
Training to become a pediatric thoracic surgeon is intensive and involves many years of post-graduate work and a residency program. In addition to passing a national examination to become licensed, pediatric thoracic surgeons can also become board certified after completing both a written and oral examination. The tests rate doctors on several key factors, including their level of clinical knowledge and skills. Ongoing education is a common requirement for doctors in order to keep informed on advancements in the field of medicine.