The importance of baseline screening investigations and modified severity weighted assessment tool in patients with early stage mycosis fungoides: A four-year retrospective study

Abstract

Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the prognosis and response to treatment relationship of baseline clinical and hematological parameters including eosinophil counts, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and beta-2 microglobulin, flow cytometry and initial modified Severity Weighted Assessment Tool (mSWAT) scores in patients with mycosis fungoides (MF). Methods: Medical records of 112 patients with the diagnosis of early-stage MF were examined retrospectively. Data of the patient and disease characteristics, and baseline laboratory tests were reviewed and evaluated in terms of stage and treatment response. Results: In this study, patients were classified into two groups: responders and non-responders. Complete and partial responses were observed in 79 (70%) patients. Eight patients (7%) developed relapse in the follow-up period. In the staging groups (IA, IB, IIA), the frequency of elevated beta-2 microglobulin was different among all parameters. When the results were compared based on clinical responsiveness, until the time to diagnosis was significantly longer in non-responder patients than responders. High mSWAT scores, elevated beta-2 microglobulin and LDH levels, and plaque-type lesions were more frequent in non-responder patients. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that extensive screening tests may not be very meaningful in patients with early-stage MF. mSWAT scores, beta-2 microglobulin, and LDH tests should be evaluated as useful measurements in prediction the response to treatment.