Referring Physician FAQ and Referral Information

Practical Information for Physicians Referring Patients for Surgical Oncology Consultation

Patients with complex gastrointestinal and hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) malignancies often benefit from early surgical oncology consultation to help guide staging evaluation, treatment sequencing, and multidisciplinary coordination.

The information below addresses common questions from referring physicians regarding consultation requests, evaluation timelines, operative planning, and communication throughout the care process.

For additional details regarding molecular profiling and biomarker-informed surgical strategy, please visit the Molecular Oncology & Surgical Strategy page.

Consultation and Referral Process

  • Referring physicians may contact the office directly to coordinate consultation or multidisciplinary evaluation.

    Phone (preferred for urgent or time-sensitive cases)
    (650) 652-8787

    Fax
    (650) 652-8770

    Referral documentation may include clinic notes, imaging reports, pathology results, and relevant laboratory studies when available.

    For non-urgent coordination questions, physicians may also contact the office by email.

    Direct physician-to-physician discussion is welcome for complex cases or time-sensitive referrals.

  • Patients with suspected or confirmed cancer are prioritized for timely evaluation.

    When clinically appropriate, consultations can often be scheduled within several days and sometimes next day, depending on urgency and availability.

    The office works closely with referring physicians and patients to minimize delays in evaluation and treatment planning.

  • When available, helpful records include:

    • Recent clinic notes and relevant medical history

    • Pathology and biopsy reports

    • Prior operative reports

    • Recent imaging (CT, MRI, PET) and radiology reports

    • Endoscopy or procedure reports (EUS, ERCP, colonoscopy)

    • Pertinent laboratory studies, including tumor markers

    If elements of the diagnostic workup are still in progress, referral should not be delayed. Our team can assist with additional evaluation and staging as needed.

Clinical Evaluation and Treatment Planning

  • Early referral is encouraged even when staging is incomplete.

    In many complex malignancies — particularly pancreatic, liver, and biliary cancers — treatment sequencing may include systemic therapy, radiation, or additional diagnostic evaluation prior to surgery.

    Early consultation allows thoughtful integration of operative strategy within the broader multidisciplinary treatment plan.

  • Yes. Second opinions are welcome at any stage of diagnosis or treatment planning.

    Consultation may help clarify:

    • Surgical candidacy

    • Timing of systemic therapy

    • Multidisciplinary treatment sequencing

    • Management of complex or borderline resectable disease

    Patients often seek consultation after initial diagnosis, during systemic therapy, or when considering surgery following treatment response.

  • Minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques may be considered in carefully selected patients, particularly in pancreatic, liver, upper gastrointestinal, colorectal, and adrenal operations.

    However, the operative approach is determined by oncologic principles, tumor biology, anatomic relationships, and patient safety. Open surgery remains the appropriate approach in many complex oncologic procedures.

    The goal is always complete tumor resection with negative margins within a multidisciplinary treatment strategy.

Coordination and Communication

  • Referring physicians receive timely updates throughout the patient’s care, including:

    • Consultation notes

    • Operative reports

    • Pathology results and staging information

    • Postoperative recovery updates

    • Follow-up recommendations and adjuvant treatment coordination

    Direct communication between physicians is encouraged whenever helpful for patient care.

  • Yes. Coordination with the referring physician and oncology team remains central to the patient’s care plan.

    Many patients return to their local oncologist or primary physician for ongoing systemic therapy, surveillance, or supportive care after surgical treatment.

Physician Consultation and Case Discussion

  • Yes. Physicians seeking consultation for complex gastrointestinal, hepatopancreatobiliary, or peritoneal malignancies are encouraged to contact the office directly.

    Direct physician-to-physician discussion is welcome for:

    • New or complex cancer diagnoses

    • Imaging review

    • Operative strategy questions

    • Multidisciplinary treatment planning

    Phone consultation is often the fastest way to coordinate evaluation or discuss urgent clinical questions.

Consultation Requests

Referring physicians may contact the office directly to coordinate consultation or multidisciplinary evaluation.

Phone
(650) 652-8787

Fax
(650) 652-8770

For urgent cases or time-sensitive referrals, please call the office directly.