Ong et al developed a prognostic index score for patients with disseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This can help identify patients who may benefit from more aggressive management or treatment with novel therapies. The authors are from the National Cancer Centre in Singapore.
Patient selection: disseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Parameters:
(1) metastases at presentation
(2) liver metastases
(3) lung metastases
(4) hemoglobin
(5) ECOG performance status
(6) disease free interval in months
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
metastases at presentation |
no |
0 |
|
|
yes |
1 |
|
liver metastases |
no |
0 |
|
|
yes |
2 |
|
lung metastases |
no |
0 |
|
|
yes |
2 |
|
hemoglobin |
>= 12 g/dL |
0 |
|
|
< 12 g/dL (anemia) |
4 |
|
ECOG performance |
0 or 1 |
0 |
|
|
2, 3 or 4 |
4 |
|
disease free interval |
>= 6 months |
0 |
|
|
< 6 months |
4 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 17 (the paper states 16 is the maximum possible value)
• The higher the score the worse the prognosis.
|
Total Score |
Risk Group |
Median Survival |
|
0 to 6 |
low |
19.5 months |
|
7 to 10 |
intermediate |
10 months |
|
11 or more |
high |
5.8 months |
Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Surgery, general, Otolaryngology
