Researchers at Trinity College Dublin, along with collaborators in the UK, have created a simple but powerful diagnostic tool, which they believe will change a patient’s life in the diagnosis of a type of blood cancer that shows up on the skin. Their paper is recently published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL), particularly mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS), MF/SS are rare types of lymphoma which can be difficult to spot in their early stages because they closely resemble common skin problems like eczema or psoriasis. Many patients spend several years seeking answers before the correct diagnosis is made, often after being treated for other skin conditions.

This delay creates stress and uncertainty for patients, making it harder to make treatment decisions and possibly affecting their outcomes as well.

Because MF/SS is rare and often mimics benign skin conditions, it is commonly overlooked. The main problem is the long delay to diagnosis. Patients endure uncertainty and inappropriate treatments, and if MF/SS is not recognised, they may be inadvertently treated for a benign skin condition in ways that could actually be harmful. Researchers wanted to create a simple, memorable way to improve early recognition and shorten the diagnostic delay.

The research was a collaboration between dermatologists from Trinity College Dublin/Tallaght University Hospital, and colleagues in the UK (Hospital trusts: Birmingham, Royal Devon, Sheffield, and Salford Royal).

In terms of incidence of MF/SS, there are 15-45 new cases per year in Ireland. The numbers mirror international rates, but the rarity makes awareness even more crucial. In Europe there are 0.3-0.9 per 100,000 per year, with SS being even rarer (0.1 per 1,000,000).

The team was inspired by how the “ABCDE” rule revolutionised melanoma awareness and saved countless lives. They hope their diagnostic tool, which they have called the “A to F “Think MF” rule will transform how doctors approach persistent rashes, reminding them to consider lymphoma sooner.

Key findings from this research

• MF/SS often mimics common skin rashes, causing diagnostic delay.
• Misdiagnosis can be dangerous: some treatments for eczema/psoriasis may worsen MF/SS .
• Early recognition is critical to treatment outcomes and quality of life.  
• A simple, memorable acronym (A to F) can make a meaningful difference in clinical awareness.
• The “Think MF” approach mirrors the melanoma ABCDE rule, which empowered non-specialists to spot melanoma earlier.

One key insight was that MF/SS can mimic other skin diseases so closely that patients often receive standard treatments for eczema or psoriasis. This overlap highlights why a clear, practical memory aid like “A to F ‘Think MF’ is needed to guide doctors in considering lymphoma sooner.

Patient impact from this study: if widely adopted, researchers believe that the A–F rule could:

• Reduce diagnostic delays.
• Prevent inappropriate treatments.
• Improve quality of life.
• Empower dermatologists worldwide with a simple, everyday reminder.

In terms of next steps for this researchers, the team hopes to educate and raise awareness campaigns across dermatology networks, to test the acronym’s impact in real-world clinical settings and to integrate into teaching and training programmes.