One point is given for each of the following characteristics present in the patient with splenic MZL, for a total score ranging from zero to three:
- Hemoglobin <12 g/dL
- Serum lactate dehydrogenase level greater than normal
- Serum albumin level <3.5 g/dL
When applied to a study of long-term survival in 309 patients with splenic MZL diagnosed between 1989 and 2004, three risk groups and their corresponding five-year OS and cause-specific death rates were identified.