Specialty: Children's Orthopaedic
Age group: Children
Direct to the Royal Children's Hospital's emergency department
- Fracture through or adjacent to a
- previously diagnosed bone malignancy or tumour
- bone lesion that has previously been confirmed as a benign pathology by a musculoskeletal tumour service.
Criteria for referral to the Royal Children's Hospital's musculoskeletal tumour service
- Child with suspected or confirmed bone or soft tissue tumour
- An incidental bone lesion identified on imaging described as most likely representing benign pathology (e.g. unicameral bone cyst, cortical desmoid, non-ossifying fibroma, or fibrous cortical defect)
- An incidental bone lesion identified on imaging without suspicious features.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- All available imaging reports: x-ray, MRI scan or ultrasound (including details of the diagnostic imaging practice).
Additional comments
The Minimum information for referrals to non-admitted specialist services lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
Any child with suspected or confirmed bone or soft tissue tumours should be referred directly to the Royal Children’s Hospital’s musculoskeletal tumour service.
Where appropriate and available the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.
Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for
Not applicable.
Reviewed 02 October 2025