Heath et al reported 5 features which can help to identify a Merkel cell carcinoma. This tumor is often misdiagnosed clinically. The authors are from the University of Sydney in Australia.
Patient selection: Merkel cell carcinoma
Key features:
(1) asymptomatic (A)
(2) rapid expansion (E)
(3) immunosuppressed (I)
(4) older age, usuallyt > 50 years old (O)
(5) ultraviolet (UV) light exposed skin AND the person is fair skinned (U)
The maximum number of these features that may be present is 5.
The presence of >= 3 of the features is seen in 89% of patients.
The authors also noted that many of the patients also had CLL.
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