The Hematology Division is 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 of patients with hematological and non-hematological tumors. The overall inpatient care system comprises the management of both oncology and hematology teams, in which a monthly rotating attending physician is responsible for all inpatient care and education of residents.
High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is regarded as the standard treatment for (1) patients with relapsed malignant lymphoma previously responsive to chemotherapy and (2) younger patients with multiple myeloma. A clinical engineer, in collaboration with staff physicians, performs stem cell harvesting by apheresis and cell processing. In 2008, approximately 240 patients with hematological malignancies, including 35 patients seeking a second opinion, visited the Division for consultation.
Patients with various types of hematological malignancies, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute leukemia, and chronic leukemia are also managed at the Division. Increasing numbers of patients with both hematological and non-hematological tumors are currently receiving routine chemotherapy provided as an outpatient service by the Division. All patients undergoing aggressive chemotherapy are managed in laminar airflow rooms in the designated ward on the eighth floor. Besides managing patients, the Division also provides consultation on hematological abnormalities.
Morning case conferences on inpatient care are held on Mondays and Thursdays and a weekly case conference on new patients visiting the clinics at the Division is held on Thursday evenings. A monthly conference, including educational review on hematology, is also conducted on Tuesday evenings. On Wednesday evenings, a weekly joint conference on hematological disorders is held with pathologists. Moreover, there are morning journal clubs on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Division of Oncology and Hematology.
| Number of Patients with Hematological malignancies in 2008 | |
| Diagnosis | Number |
| Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma | 159 |
| Hodgkin’s lymphoma | 12 |
| Multiple myeloma | 14 |
| Acute leukemia | 15 |
| Chronic leukemia | 5 |
| Others | 37 |
| Total | 242 |
Table of Contents