title: The Investigations Required Before Referring a Patient to a Gynaecologic Oncologist.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide guidance for referring physicians regarding what gynaecologic oncologists want and do not require in the referral package for a new patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  An email survey was circulated to all members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada (GOC) asking what they felt was required in a new patient referral package so that they could provide a timely consultation and management plan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey had a 79% response rate among 121 GOC members. Before referral of patients with endometrial cancer, 50% of respondents did not want additional investigations; only 4% wanted an MRI performed prior to them seeing the patient. For patients with high-grade cancers of the uterus (including serous), 40% wanted to see the patient without further investigations, while 42% wanted a CT scan report to be included in the referral package. For patients with cervical cancer, 56% of respondents wanted to see the patient without any further investigations, while 24% wished to have an MRI report included in the referral package. For patients with vulvar cancer, 50% of respondents did not want any further investigations; for patients with a pelvic mass, the majority of respondents wanted a serum CA 125 level in the referral package, while 0% to 3% only wanted an MRI. The preferred modality for imaging of the chest was a chest X-ray only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our survey indicated that gynaecologic oncologists want little information in the referral package beyond the biopsy result. MRI is not required in the workup of most patients with a pelvic mass or uterine cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto ON.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kupets
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK.
authors.forename: K Christopher
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Giede
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Memorial University, St. John's NL.
authors.forename: Patti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Power
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agrawal
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Referral information; gynaecologic cancer