Merkel cell carcinoma
Meaning of merkel cell carcinoma: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, Merkel cell carcinoma means a primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma; (3) While Merkel cell carcinoma attracts ICD-10-AM codes C00.0, C00.1, C00.2, C00.6, C00.8, C00.9, C44, C51.0, C51.1, C51.2, C51.8, C51.9, C60.0, C60.1, C60.2, C60.8, C60.9, C63.2, D04, D07.1, D07.4., in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of Merkel cell carcinoma is that given in subsection (2). (4) For subsection (3), a reference to an ICD-10-AM code is a reference to the code assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), Tenth Edition, effective date of 1 July 2017, copyrighted by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, ISBN 978-1-76007-296-4.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 80 of 2024
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting Merkel cell carcinoma or death from Merkel cell carcinoma with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having sunlight exposure to unprotected skin for a cumulative period of at least 2,250 latitude equivalent hours before clinical onset;
Note: latitude equivalent hours and unprotected skin are defined in the Schedule 1 dictionary.
- (2)having PUVA therapy, where: (a) the first PUVA treatment commenced at least 5 years before clinical onset; and (b) at least 50 PUVA treatments were administered before clinical onset;
Note: PUVA therapy is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (3)being infected with Merkel cell polyomavirus before clinical onset;
- (4)being infected with human immunodeficiency virus before clinical onset;
- (5)undergoing solid organ (excluding corneal transplant) or bone marrow transplantation at least 5 years before clinical onset;
- (6)having non-Hodgkin lymphoma before clinical onset;
- (7)having mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma before clinical onset;
Note: Mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma is also known as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small cell lymphoma.
- (8)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for Merkel cell carcinoma before clinical worsening;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(8) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 81 of 2024
7 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, Merkel cell carcinoma or death from Merkel cell carcinoma is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having sunlight exposure to unprotected skin for a cumulative period of at least 4,500 latitude equivalent hours before clinical onset;
Note: latitude equivalent hours and unprotected skin are defined in the Schedule 1- Dictionary.
- (2)being infected with Merkel cell polyomavirus before clinical onset;
- (3)being infected with human immunodeficiency virus before clinical onset;
- (4)undergoing solid organ (excluding corneal transplant) or bone marrow transplantation at least 10 years before clinical onset;
- (5)having non-Hodgkin lymphoma before clinical onset;
- (6)having mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma before clinical onset;
Note: Mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma is also known as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small cell lymphoma.
- (7)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for Merkel cell carcinoma before clinical worsening;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(7) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
