Thyroid Neoplasia

The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form.  This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date.  If you receive this SMS, please update your details.

Availability

North South North West Statewide

Pre-referral work-up

History

This is a diagnostic and co-ordination clinic that ensures cross-disciplinary case co-ordination of patients with clinical concern of malignancy, malignancy and follow up of care.

This clinic accepts referrals for the investigation, management and long-term follow-up of patients with malignant thyroid disease. Conditions managed include papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer and long-term follow-up of thyroid cancer patient including management of I131 ablation planning and TSH stimulated imaging.

Referrals accepted from state-wide.

All referrals should comply to referral standards and also include:

  • Onset of symptoms
  • Diagnosis and investigations leading to this diagnosis
  • Current and past medications
  • Current and past thyroid related treatments including surgery
  • Description of thyroid including size, nodularity, recent changes
  • Local symptoms such as voice changes, pressure symptoms, obstruction

Tests

  • TSH, T4
  • Thyroid antibodies
  • Consider thyroid ultrasound and FNA of solitary or suspicious nodules

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Endocrinology clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Obtaining nuclear medicine studies and biopsies can be facilitated by clinic and so obtaining these should not delay referral.If clinically concerned or uncertain of degree of urgency please phone the Endocrinology Registrar or Consultant in charge to discuss prior to referral.

For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.

Urgent / category 1

Proven thyroid cancer

Red flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency:

Proceed to Emergency Department (ED).
LGH ED Reception  – Phone: (03) 6777 6405  Fax: (03) 6777 5201
MCH ED* – Phone: (03) 6478 5120  Fax: (03) 6441 5923
NWRH ED* – Phone: (03) 6493 6351 Fax: (03) 6464 1926
RHH ED Reception – Phone: (03) 6166 6100  Fax: (03) 6173 0489

Advice for medical practitioners can be given by the Medical Officer In Charge (MOIC) - see HealthPathways Tasmania for contact information.
*MCH and NWRH MOICs request GPs call them prior to referring a patient to ensure the patient is being sent appropriately to a safe destination.

Urgent:

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review.

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Semi-urgent:

We will endeavour to see these patients within 12 weeks

Routine:

Next available appointment