Michael McHale , 2025-11-07 08:30:00
‘A-F Think MF’ mnemonic gives clinicians a simple way to check for important symptoms
Irish researchers have developed a new memory tool for early recognition of rare types of lymphoma.
The ‘A-F Think MF’ mnemonic mirrors the melanoma ABCDE rule, which has been shown to aid non-specialists in spotting melanoma earlier.
Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL), particularly mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome (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.
A-F Think MF memory tool
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin, along with collaborators in the UK, created the memory aid in the hope that it will help clinicians spot the core symptoms of the disease.
Their paper on the topic was published this week in the British Journal of Dermatology.
There are between 15 and 45 new cases MF/SS diagnosed each year in Ireland. The numbers mirror international rates – in Europe there are between 0.3 and 0.9 cases diagnosed per 100,000 per year.
“This work addresses one of the biggest challenges in cutaneous lymphoma care – the long delay to diagnosis,” said the study’s lead author Dr Kevin Molloy of the School of Medicine in Trinity College.
“By proposing a simple, memorable tool, we aim to change the way doctors think about persistent skin rashes and help improve the diagnostic delay, ensuring patients are considered for the right diagnosis earlier.
“Just as the ABCDE rule transformed melanoma awareness, our A to F ‘Think MF’ acronym has the potential to raise awareness and improve the care and quality of life for people living with this rare type of lymphoma.”
