Leukaemias - Acute and Chronic
Outpatients | Haematology (including oncological disorders)This condition is treated in the Haematology (including oncological disorders) clinic.
Pre-referral work-up
History
All referrals should comply to referral standards referral standards and include in particular:
- Relevant investigations, including previous results to assess temporal pattern.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) is generally an indolent lymphoproliferative disorder and will be triaged accordingly.
- Traditional indications for treatment of CLL include the following and are an indication of the need to discuss the case for a more prompt review:
- Symptomatic lymphadenopathy
- Auto-immune cytopenias (Autoimmune haemolytic naemia, Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura)
- Lymphocyte doubling time of under six months
- Presence of disabling – B Symptoms" (fevers, loss of over 10% body weight, drenching night sweats)
Interim/GP management
To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Haematology clinic page for the full referral process and templates.
Any newly diagnosed acute leukaemia should be discussed with the Haematologist/Registrar on call and may be referred directly to the Emergency Department for assessment, stabilisation and investigation.
For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.
Clinic appointments
🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.
Emergency
🚩 Suspected acute leukaemia (evidenced by blood film report)
🚩 Severe cytopenias if patient is unwell (i.e. infection, symptomatic anaemia, active bleeding):
- Neutrophils under 0.5 x 10^9/L
- Haemoglobin under 80g/L
- Platelets under 20 x 10^9/L
🚩 Rapidly progressive leucocytosis (white cell count over 75 x 10^9/L) in the absence of infection/inflammation where there may be a risk of leucostasis/hyperviscosity
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Availability
North
Launceston General Hospital
Level 1 - W.P. Holman Clinic
Phone: 03 6777 6140
Fax: 03 6331 6371
North West
North West Regional Hospital > Mersey Community Hospital
Torquay Road Latrobe TAS 7307
South
Royal Hobart Hospital (Level 1 - A Block)
Phone (appointments): 03 6166 6655
Phone (clinic nurses): 03 6166 6637
Fax: 03 6173 0484