South East Scotland Musculoskeletal Tumour Service
Service Information: The SE Scotland Musculoskeletal Tumour Service is a multidisciplinary service providing Musculoskeletal Tumour care to patients of Lothian, Fife and the Borders.
Primarily we deal with Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma. We also see patients with certain benign conditions of bone and soft tissue and metastatic bone disease requiring surgery.
All referrals are triaged by a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon from the SE Scotland Musculoskeletal Tumour Unit, RIE.
We receive in the region of 750 referrals per year, of which, less than 10% result in a diagnosis of malignant disease.
We operate Virtual and Traditional Clinics
The success of the virtual clinics and referrals triage relies on good quality and detailed information from primary care; where information isn’t complete, we may need to seek further information before completing the triage process. (Please complete the referral protocol on SCI Gateway as fully as possible).
Where possible, please make sure the patient or carer is aware that they are being referred to a tumour clinic as an “Urgent – Suspicion of Cancer” referral.
Once we have received the referral, we will triage the referral to an appropriate pathway which may include:
- offering a clinic appointment
- arranging an out-patient investigation
- an onward referral to a more appropriate specialty or,
- providing written advice to the referrer.
All out-patient investigations will be organised and followed up by the MSK Tumour Service. No results will be forwarded to practices for their action.
Who to refer:
Patients with suspected soft tissue sarcoma
- No additional imaging required prior to referral
- Initial referral for children and young people age 15 and under should be urgent and via appropriate paediatric service.
Who not to refer:
Head or neck lumps
- Refer ENT NeckLump.aspx Pathway
Superficial soft tissue lumps < 5cm
- Refer GeneralSurgery.aspx or locality minor surgery service, where available.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST)
- Refer WGH Colorectal Service
How to refer:
- Complete the Musculoskeletal Tumour Service referral form via SCI Gateway
- Lauriston Buildings >> Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery >> LI Sarcoma pathway
- Refer as Urgent Suspected Cancer
Please make sure that patients or their carers are aware that a referral is being made to a cancer pathway. Please also consider the BRAN questions – what are the benefits of referral and what are the risks? Are there alternatives (watchful waiting)? What about doing nothing?
RIE Orthopaedic Sarcoma Nurse Specialist: Ashleigh Brown, ashleigh.brown@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
CANCER REFERRAL GUIDELINES (www.cancerreferral.scot.nhs.uk)
Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer (Sarcomas and Bone Cancers):
https://www.cancerreferral.scot.nhs.uk/sarcomas-and-bone-cancers/
SARCOMA UK (www.sarcoma.org.uk)
