Sections

The Benign Hematology section provides outstanding care to patients with cancer who have diseases of the blood. In support of this, our goals are:

• To provide clinical support for patients with cancer who have non-malignant disorders of bleeding, thrombosis, platelets, red cells and white cells. We work collaboratively with primary providers to optimize clinical outcomes, including long-term outcomes;
• To identify and explore areas of research—both basic and clinical—that provide avenues to improved standards-of-care for patients with cancer who are suffering from blood diseases; and
• To educate patients, students, post-doctoral trainees, mid-level providers and physician colleagues about the impact and natural history of hematological disorders that emerge or complicate the course of a patient’s cancer and its treatment.

Benign Hematology clinical services

The Benign Hematology section provides services for a broad range of blood disorders:

• Bone marrow disorders: chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression; aplastic anemia; pure red cell aplasia; amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia; diagnosis and treatment of treatment-related and de novo myelodysplastic syndrome; benign monoclonal gammopathy.
• Red cell disorders: anemia; erythrocytosis; hemoglobinopathies; enzymopathies; porphyrias; hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytic disorders.
• White cell disorders: neutropenia; functional disorders; leukocytosis; lymphohistiocytic disorders.
• Platelet disorders: thrombocytopenia; platelet function disorders; thrombotic microangiopathies; platelet transfusions.
• Bleeding disorders: acquired and congenital coagulopathies; sepsis with DIC; von Willebrand disease; use of replacement therapy (purified factors, FFP, fibrinogen, and cryoprecipitate); use of hemostatic drugs (ε-aminocaproic acid, DDAVP, recombinant activated factor VII); perioperative management of hemostasis and hemostatic risk.
• Thrombotic disorders: venous thromboembolism; atherothrombosis; hypercoagulability; use of anticoagulant, antiplatelet and fibrinolytic drugs; perioperative management of thromboses; post-thrombotic syndrome.

Benign Hematology faculty

• Michael Kroll, M.D., Professor and Section Chief
• Effrosyni Apostolidou, M.D., Associate Professor
• Vahid Afshar-Kharghan, M.D., Professor
• Min Soon Cho, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 
• Thein Oo, M.D., Professor
• Cristhiam M. Rojas Hernandez, M.D., Associate Professor