The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) serves as a practical tool to help predict survival outcomes for patients diagnosed with follicular lymphoma. By assessing five key clinical parameters, the FLIPI score provides insight into a patient's risk level, ultimately guiding treatment considerations.

The parameters analyzed in this index are:

- Age: Scores as 1 if the patient is over 60 years old; otherwise, scores as 0.
- Nodal involvement: Scores as 1 for a patient with involvement in more than 4 nodal sites; otherwise, scores as 0.
- Advanced disease stage: Scores as 1 if the disease is classified as Stage III-IV; otherwise, scores as 0.
- Lactate dehydrogenase levels: Scores as 1 if elevated; otherwise, scores as 0.
- Anemia, defined by hemoglobin levels under 120 g/L: Scores as 1 if levels are low; otherwise, scores as 0.

To calculate the FLIPI score, each of these parameters is converted into a binary score based on the patient's clinical data and then summed. The sum determines the patient's risk category:

- A total score of 0 or 1 indicates a low-risk profile, corresponding to an approximate 70% 10-year overall survival rate.
- A total score of 2 suggests an intermediate risk, with a 10-year overall survival rate of roughly 50%.
- A total score of 3 or higher signals a high-risk profile, with the 10-year overall survival falling to around 35%.

By evaluating these factors collectively, the FLIPI score assists clinicians in providing a prognostic outlook for their patients, aiding in the prioritization of treatment strategies to optimize patient outcomes.

The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index, commonly referred to as the FLIPI score, is a clinical calculator used in the management of patients with follicular lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This scoring system is used to stratify patients into risk groups based on five clinical parameters: age, Ann Arbor stage, number of nodal sites, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and hemoglobin level. The FLIPI score helps clinicians predict the patient's prognosis and guide treatment decisions. It is not applicable to patients with other types of lymphoma or those with insufficient clinical data to calculate the score.

International Prognostic Index for Follicular Lymphoma (FLIPI)