Paediatric or adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer (PO)
Affected individual from a family in whom a mutation in a cancer predisposition gene has NOT been identified (Paediatric Only Conditions)
Emergency referrals
If any of the following are present or suspected, refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.
- No referrals to emergency relating to genetic testing or review
Does your patient wish to be referred?
Minimum referral criteria
Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1
Appointment within 30 days is desirable
- Patients diagnosed at age < 25 years with any of the following cancers that have not been in continuous remission for ≥ 3 years:
- pleuropulmonary blastoma
- atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumour (ATRT)
- adrenocortical carcinoma, choroid plexus tumour or any other cancer that fulfils criteria for genetic testing for TP53
- medullary thyroid cancer
- medulloblastoma fulfilling genetic testing criteria for PTCH1
- haematological malignancy (also see Haematology (excluding cancer) genetics condition and Haematological malignancy condition within Genetics CPC)
- phaeochromocytoma/paraganglioma
- basal cell carcinoma
- gastrointestinal stromal tumour
- cystic nephroma
- any cancer with loss of staining for mismatch repair proteins
- Cancers listed in Category 2 with poor prognosis
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- Patients diagnosed at age < 25 years with any of the following cancers that have not been in continuous remission for ≥ 3 years:
- ovarian sex cord tumour with annular tubules (SCTAT)
- Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour
- colorectal cancer
- any patient that has cancer who has features of NFI
- any childhood cancer with other personal or family history which suggests another familial cancer predisposition syndrome
- any childhood cancer and a personal history of developmental delay, intellectual or neurological impairment or congenital abnormalities
- adult cancers presenting in childhood/ young adulthood
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- Previously treated cancers listed in Category 1 or 2 criteria in continuous remission for ≥3 years (includes adult survivors)
- Retinoblastoma
If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria
Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis.
If you still need to refer your patient:
- Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
- Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service
Other important information for referring practitioners
Not an exhaustive list
- The Paediatric or adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer condition contains commonly referred conditions for younger patients but is not an exhaustive list. Please consider the information provided in other conditions within the Cancer Genetics CPC if the referral is for a condition that affects people of all ages.
- The offer of an appointment by GHQ does NOT guarantee that the patient will be offered a publicly funded gene test.
- If the patient is an UNTESTED blood relative of a person with an identified mutation in a cancer predisposition gene please refer to the Untested blood relative condition within the Genetics CPC
- If the patient has undergone mainstreamed and/or private genetic testing refer to the Mainstreamed or private testing condition within the Genetics CPC
- Patients will be asked to provide detailed family information either during a telephone consultation (if urgent) or via a family history questionnaire (Cat 3). One or more Consent to Release information forms may be provided to forward to family members to obtain their consent to confirm details of the reported family history.
- Any category 2 patient where genetic testing has not been initiated by the referrer will be contacted by GHQ within 6 weeks. All other patients (for example those with retinoblastoma) will be contacted once genetic test results are available.
- In some situations, the family may not wish to engage with the genetics service immediately but may wish to seek genetic counselling at a later date. It is important in this situation that the appropriate blood and tumour samples are collected so that DNA is available for testing at a later time if the parents so wish.
- The following resources can be found on the GHQ website:
- Retinoblastoma
- ATRT
- Pleuropulmonary blastoma
- Haematological malignancy
- General instructions for DNA storage for children with cancer
- Please contact GHQ or Pathology Queensland for further instructions.
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
Send referral
Hotline: 1300 364 938
Fax: 1300 364 952
Electronic: eReferral system
Mail: Metro North Central Patient Intake
Aspley Community Centre
776 Zillmere Road
ASPLEY QLD 4034
Health pathways
Access to Health Pathways is free for clinicians in Metro North Brisbane.
For login details email:
healthpathways
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.