Who is Dr. Palafox, Thoracic Surgeon in Orange, CA?
Dr. Brian Palafox, MD is a Thoracic Surgeon, who primarily practices in Orange, CA with 1 additional practice location. He has been practicing for over 44 years and is board certified. Dr. Palafox graduated from University of California and completed his residency at Univ Ca Irvine Med Ctr, Thoracic Surgery; Univ Ca Irvine Med Ctr, General Surgery; Orange County Med Ctr, General Surgery; Orange County Med Ctr, Anatomic And Clinical Pathology. He is a member of the MemorialCare Physician Society.
Dr. Palafox is fluent in English and Spanish, and is currently seeing new patients. Dr. Palafox’s practice accepts Medicare, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna and other major insurance plans. To book an appointment or to confirm insurance options, please call Dr. Palafox’s office at (714) 997-2224.
What are Areas of Expertise for Dr. Palafox?
Dr. Brian Palafox, MD is a highly-rated, board-certified Thoracic Surgeon known for expertly diagnosing, treating, and managing a wide array
of related conditions or procedures. Utilizing the latest medical advancements and evidence-based practices, Dr. Palafox empowers
patients to confidently navigate their health journey, specializing in Cardiac Surgery, Heart Valve Surgery, Lung Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, or comprehensive
wellness support. Serving
the Orange/CA community, Dr. Palafox is dedicated to enhancing lives through expert, patient-centered care.
Where did Dr. Palafox go to medical school and complete their residency?
Fellowship: University of California, Irvine
Residency: Univ Ca Irvine Med Ctr, Thoracic Surgery; Univ Ca Irvine Med Ctr, General Surgery; Orange County Med Ctr, General Surgery; Orange County Med Ctr, Anatomic And Clinical Pathology | University of California, Irvine Affiliated Hospitals | UC Irvine Medical Center
Medical School: University Of Ca- Irvine- Ca Coll Of Med- Irvine Ca | University of California | UCI School of Medicine
Is Dr. Palafox board certified as a Thoracic Surgeon?
Yes, Dr. Brian Palafox, MD is board certified by the American Board of Surgery , American Board of Thoracic Surgery
What languages does Dr. Palafox speak?
Dr. Palafox and their clinical team can communicate with patients in the following languages:
English
Spanish
What conditions does Dr. Palafox treat?
As a Thoracic Surgeon, Dr. Palafox diagnoses, treats, and manages
a wide range of conditions. This condition information is derived from anonymized
insurance claims and highlights the medical conditions most commonly treated
by Dr. Palafox. It provides insight into the doctor’s areas of experience
and expertise based on real-world patient encounters from the past two years, updated quarterly.
Also known as:
Sunken Chest
Birth Defects
Pectus Excavatum
Funnel Chest
Concave Chest
ICD-10 Codes:
Q676: Pectus excavatum
Also known as:
Other Pre-Procedure Examination
Various pre-op checks
Miscellaneous pre-surgery exams
Other pre-treatment assessments
ICD-10 Codes:
Z01818: Encounter for other preprocedural examination
Also known as:
Single Lung Nodule
Other Abnormal Findings on Lung Scan
Lung Disease
Lung Spot
Pulmonary Nodule
Spot on Lung Scan
Unusual Lung Scan Results
Atypical Lung Imaging
Nonspecific Lung Abnormality
ICD-10 Codes:
R911: Solitary pulmonary nodule
R918: Other nonspecific abnormal finding of lung field
Also known as:
Narrowed Aortic Valve
Leaky Mitral Valve
Heart Valve Disease
Aortic Valve Stenosis
Tight Aortic Valve
Mitral Valve Insufficiency
Mitral Regurgitation
ICD-10 Codes:
I350: Nonrheumatic aortic (valve) stenosis
I340: Nonrheumatic mitral (valve) insufficiency
Also known as:
Hardening of the Arteries in the Heart without Chest Pain
Coronary Artery Disease with Angina
Atherosclerosis
Coronary Artery Disease
Silent Coronary Artery Disease
Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerotic Heart Disease with Angina
Chest Pain from Heart Disease
Angina Pectoris
ICD-10 Codes:
I2510: Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina pectoris
I25118: Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery with other forms of angina pectoris
Also known as:
Circulatory System Surgery Aftercare
After Surgery
Post-cardiac surgery care
Vascular surgery aftercare
Heart surgery recovery
ICD-10 Codes:
Z48812: Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on the circulatory system
Also known as:
Pleural Effusion
Pleural Disorder
Fluid in lungs
Water on the lung
Fluid around lungs
ICD-10 Codes:
J90: Pleural effusion, not elsewhere classified
Also known as:
Pigeon Chest
Birth Defects
Pectus Carinatum
Keel Chest
Protruding Breastbone
ICD-10 Codes:
Q677: Pectus carinatum
Also known as:
Lung Cancer
Right lower lobe lung cancer
Bronchial cancer
Malignant neoplasm of lung
Right upper lobe lung cancer
Left Lung Cancer
Upper Lobe Lung Cancer
Bronchial Cancer
ICD-10 Codes:
C3431: Malignant neoplasm of lower lobe, right bronchus or lung
C3411: Malignant neoplasm of upper lobe, right bronchus or lung
C3412: Malignant neoplasm of upper lobe, left bronchus or lung
Also known as:
Other Mediastinum Disorder
Various mediastinal diseases
Unspecified chest cavity problems
Other conditions of the mediastinum
ICD-10 Codes:
J9859: Other diseases of mediastinum, not elsewhere classified
Z09: Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for conditions other than malignant neoplasm
Also known as:
Ascending Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Aneurysm
Bulging Ascending Aorta
Weakened Ascending Aorta
Ascending Aorta Dilation
ICD-10 Codes:
I7121: Aneurysm of the ascending aorta, without rupture
Also known as:
Trunk Lump or Swelling
Body Mass
Torso Lump
Trunk Nodule
ICD-10 Codes:
R222: Localized swelling, mass and lump, trunk
Also known as:
Nontoxic Multinodular Goiter
Thyroid Disease
Multinodular Goiter
Lumpy Enlarged Thyroid
ICD-10 Codes:
E042: Nontoxic multinodular goiter
What procedures does Dr. Palafox perform?
As a Thoracic Surgeon, Dr. Palafox performs a variety of medical procedures.
This procedure information is derived from anonymized insurance claims and highlights
the medical procedures most commonly performed by Dr. Palafox. It provides insight
into the doctor’s areas of experience and expertise based on real-world patient encounters
from the past two years, updated quarterly.
Also known as:
Left Atrial Appendage Closure (Open Heart)
LAA Exclusion Surgery
Left Atrial Appendage Ligation
Open Heart LAA Closure
CPT Codes:
33268: Exclusion of left atrial appendage, open, performed at the time of other sternotomy or thoracotomy procedure(s), any method (eg, excision, isolation via stapling, oversewing, ligation, plication, clip) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
Also known as:
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Heart bypass surgery
CABG surgery
Arterial bypass graft
CPT Codes:
33533: Coronary artery bypass, using arterial graft(s); single arterial graft
Also known as:
Endoscopic Vein Harvest for Bypass
Endoscopy
Video-Assisted Vein Harvest
Minimally Invasive Vein Removal
Endoscopic Saphenous Vein Harvest
Vein Harvesting for CABG
CPT Codes:
33508: Endoscopy, surgical, including video-assisted harvest of vein(s) for coronary artery bypass procedure (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
Also known as:
Bronchoscopy with Lung Wash (BAL)
Bronchoscopy and Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL)
Fluoroscopy
Bronchial lavage
BAL procedure
Lung washing
Flexible bronchoscopy
CPT Codes:
31624: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; with bronchial alveolar lavage
Also known as:
Lung or Chest Biopsy
Biopsy
Percutaneous lung biopsy
Mediastinum core needle biopsy
Image-guided lung biopsy
CPT Codes:
32408: Core needle biopsy, lung or mediastinum, percutaneous, including imaging guidance, when performed
Also known as:
Removal of Deep Surgical Implant
Hardware Removal Surgery
Buried Implant Extraction
Orthopedic Implant Removal
CPT Codes:
20680: Removal of implant; deep (eg, buried wire, pin, screw, metal band, nail, rod or plate)
Also known as:
Total Thyroid Removal
Complete thyroidectomy
Thyroid gland removal
Thyroid surgery
CPT Codes:
60240: Thyroidectomy, total or complete
Does Dr. Palafox accept my insurance?
Dr. Palafox accepts most major insurance plans. Important: Please call our office at (714) 997-2224 before your appointment to verify that your specific plan and network are accepted.
What insurance plans does Dr. Palafox accept in Orange, CA?
Dr. Palafox in Orange, CA accepts plans from many carriers. While this list is updated regularly, it is not a guarantee of coverage.
What is Dr. Palafox's NPI number?An National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a unique ID number that identifies doctors and healthcare providers nationwide.
Dr. Palafox's National Provider Identifier (NPI) number is 1568424422.
What common questions do patients ask about Dr. Palafox?
Here are answers to patients Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Dr. Palafox
What is Dr. Brian Palafox's specialty?
Dr. Palafox is a Thoracic Surgeon near Orange, CA.
A thoracic surgeon is a healthcare expert with specialization in the surgical, perioperative, and critical care of patients with conditions affecting the chest. Their expertise encompasses the surgical treatment of coronary artery disease, lung, esophageal, and chest wall cancers, tracheal abnormalities, and issues with the great vessels and heart valves. They also address congenital anomalies, mediastinal tumors, and diaphragm diseases. Additionally, thoracic surgeons manage airway issues and chest injuries as part of their medical specialty. Contact Dr. Palafox to book an appointment today.
Is this Dr. Brian Palafox affiliated with a ranked Castle Connolly Top Hospital?
No, Palafox is not affiliated with a Castle Connolly Top Hospital, but is affiliated with the following hospitals:
Providence St. Joseph Hospital Orange.
Castle Connolly Top Hospitals are identified through a rigorous peer nomination process, evaluating factors like
patient outcomes, quality of care, and expertise. The list recognizes hospitals that excel in 20 or more specific medical procedures,
representing the top 25% nationwide.
Castle Connolly Top Hospitals
Where can I learn more about Thoracic Surgeon?
Explore Thoracic Surgeon with insights from trusted medical experts on
EverydayHealth.com, where you'll find
the most relevant content and helpful condition guides for up-to date information about symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and more.
See all our health guides to find
trusted information on medical conditions from our experts at Everyday Health.
Is Brian Palafox accepting new patients in Orange, CA?
Yes, Dr. Brian Palafox is accepting new patients at this time.
Does Dr. Brian Palafox offer online booking?
Please contact Dr. Palafox's office at (714) 997-2224 for information about online booking, telehealth, or to schedule an appointment.
How can I make an appointment with Brian Palafox?
Please contact Dr. Palafox's office at (714) 997-2224 for information regarding telehealth appointment availability or for scheduling assistance.
Which board certifications does Dr. Brian Palafox have?
Dr. Brian Palafox is certified by the American Board of Surgery and American Board of Thoracic Surgery.