The Hematology Division is a part of the Division of Oncology and Hematology. The staff physicians and residents of this Division are involved in clinical and research activities related to chemotherapy for patients with hematological and non-hematological tumors; however, the overall inpatient care system comprises management of both oncology and hematology teams, in which an attending physician who is rotated monthly is responsible for all inpatient care and education of the residents.
High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is regarded as the standard treatment (1) for patients with relapsed malignant lymphoma that had previously responded to chemotherapy and (2) for younger patients with multiple myeloma. A clinical engineer, in collaboration with these physicians, performs stem cell harvesting by apheresis and cell processing. Approximately 200 patients with hematological malignancies, including 20 patients seeking a second opinion, visited the Division for consultation in 2007. Clinical studies on hematological malignancies at the Division comprise protocols prepared in-house and participation in the Japan Clinical Oncology Group-Lymphoma Study Group (JCOG-LSG) and
the Japan Adult Leukemia Study Group. The Division also conducts phase I and II studies of new anticancer agents for hematological malignancies; these studies are sponsored by pharmaceutical companies.
Routine Activities
Patients with various types of hematological malignancies, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute leukemia, and chronic leukemia are managed at the Division. An increasing number of patients with both hematological and non-hematological tumors are receiving routine chemotherapy that is provided as an outpatient service by the Division. All patients undergoing aggressive chemotherapy are managed in laminar airflow rooms in the ward on the eighth floor. The Division not only manages patients but also provides consultation concerning hematological abnormalities.
Morning case conferences on inpatient care are held on Mondays and Thursdays and a weekly case conference on the new patients attending the clinics at the Division is held on Thursday evening. On Wednesday evenings, a weekly joint conference on hematological disorders is held with pathologists. There are also morning journal clubs on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Division of Oncology/Hematology.
● K. Itoh ●
Number of Patients with Hematological malignancies in 2007
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