Once pathologic diagnosis via skin biopsy confirms BPDCN, it is necessary to determine primary and secondary sites of involvement. Additional screening via PET/CT scan, bone marrow biopsy, and peripheral blood flow will show involvement in bone marrow, lymph nodes, and viscera.
CNS involvement, a common problem that is often present at diagnosis, is usually silent on presentation. Flow cytometry can be performed to determine the level of occult CNS involvement.
Cytopenia, due to bone marrow involvement and determined by CBC, often manifests as symptoms of fatigue, fever, bleeding, and bruising.
As the differential diagnosis in BPDCN is fairly broad, a team approach to diagnosis and treatment is best.
Learn more about predictive markers and management of BPDCN.
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Cite this: Emmanuel C. Besa. Fast Five Quiz: Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm Presentation and Diagnosis - Medscape - Feb 23, 2021.
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