A Novel Severity Score Index for Febrile Neutropenic Patients with Colorectal Diseases

Table 1

MASCC risk index factors and weights [3].

Characteristic	Weight
Burden of febrile neutropenia with no or mild symptoms^I	5
No hypotension (systolic )	5
No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease^II	4
Solid tumor or hematological malignancy with no previous fungal infection^III	4
No dehydration requiring parenteral fluids	3
Burden of febrile neutropenia with moderate symptoms^IV	3
Outpatient status	3
years	2

MASCC (Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer). ^IBurden of febrile neutropenia refers to general clinical status as influenced by the febrile neutropenic episode. It is evaluated in accordance with the following scale: no symptoms (5), mild symptoms (5), moderate symptoms (3), severe symptoms (0), and moribund (0). ^IIChronic obstructive pulmonary disease means active chronic bronchitis, emphysema, decrease in FEVs, need for oxygen therapy, and/or steroids and/or bronchodilators. ^IIIPrevious fungal infection means demonstrated fungal infection or empirically treated suspected fungal infection. ^IVThe points attributed to the variable “burden of febrile neutropenia” are not cumulative. Thus, the maximum theoretical score is therefore 26. A score of ≥21 is considered low risk and a score of <21 as high risk (positive predictive value of 91%, specificity of 68%, and sensitivity of 71%).