In 1989, we held a special oncology symposium to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Oncology Department at the Thorax Clinic Heidelberg-Rohrbach, where the current standard of care was presented against the historical backdrop of the hospital. The "milestone birthday" of an editor in June 1991 brought together internationally renowned scientists and clinicians from both domestic and international backgrounds, who have a friendly connection to the Thorax Clinic Heidelberg-Rohrbach, for a scientific exchange of ideas on the current challenges in thoracic surgery regarding diagnostics and therapy. The lectures from this symposium form the basis for this book. It provides an overview of the current state of research in thoracic surgery within an interdisciplinary context and outlines the demands that a specialized clinic will face in the future.