Gyn Onc consult communication
How to Consult Gyn Onc
What to include when calling Gynecologic Oncology about suspected or known gynecologic malignancy, adnexal mass, tumor markers, bleeding, or disposition questions.
Lead With the Decision
What decision do you need Gyn Onc to help with today: biopsy route, staging, admission service, transfer, surgery, treatment planning, or outpatient timing?
Not sure whether the consult is appropriate? Start with the Should I Consult Gyn Onc? triage page, then return here before calling.
Before the call
Have These Details Ready
- Known or suspected cancer diagnosis, including pathology status if available.
- Imaging impression, date, laterality, size, ascites, carcinomatosis, hydronephrosis, obstruction, or other high-risk features.
- Menopausal status, pregnancy status when relevant, bleeding severity, pelvic exam findings, and hemodynamic stability.
- Tumor markers already sent and why they were sent; do not make an isolated marker the whole consult question.
- Recent Gyn Onc surgery, active treatment, outside records, pending studies, and current disposition pressure.
Exam focus
Document the Specialty-Relevant Exam
- Vital signs and current acuity.
- Focused abdominal and pelvic findings when performed.
- Bleeding amount, pain location, peritoneal signs, mass effect, obstruction symptoms, or postoperative wound findings.
- What outside records, imaging, pathology, or tumor markers are pending or unavailable.
Phone or secure-chat script
A Cleaner Gyn Onc Consult Message
I am calling about a [age]-year-old with [known/suspected] gynecologic malignancy concern. The trigger is [imaging/pathology/exam/tumor marker/known cancer history]. She is [stable/unstable] with [key symptoms]. Key findings are [imaging/pathology/labs/exam]. My question is whether you can help with [admission service/transfer/biopsy route/staging/surgery/treatment planning/outpatient timing].
Common pitfalls
Avoid Low-Signal Consults
- “The CA-125 is high, should we consult?” without imaging, symptoms, menopausal status, or a decision to make.
- Calling before clarifying whether benign Gyn, medicine, surgery, or outpatient referral is the better first route.
- Presenting a possible malignancy without naming the specific action requested.
Reference links
Useful Background
Educational tools only. SIC provides clinician-facing educational consult-triage references. SIC does not diagnose, treat, prevent, cure, or mitigate disease and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, local guidelines, institutional referral pathways, or recommendations from the relevant specialty department. See disclaimer and how SIC works.