Heterogeneous impact of smoking on major salivary gland cancer according to histopathological subtype: A case-control study

Clinical Behavior of the Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Larynx-A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE

Mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MEC) of the larynx account for less than 1% of all laryngeal tumors. The unique features and clinical behavior of these rare entities remain unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we performed a scoping review of every reported case of laryngeal MEC to study the clinical behavior and the treatment modalities in this rare entity.

REVIEW METHODS

We followed the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) statement.

DATA SOURCES

MedLine, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases were searched to identify eligible studies.

RESULTS

We concluded with 25 studies and overall 66 cases. Our study revealed that the average age of cases was 55.7 years, and the range was from 12 to 81 years, with younger onset in females. Supraglottic (60%) is the most common subsite of laryngeal MEC s followed by glottis (27.3%). Supraglottic carcinomas frequently present with metastatic neck disease at the time of the initial diagnosis and require more extensive surgical approaches. Surgery with negative surgical margins seems to be the cornerstone in the treatment of MEC. Radiation therapy has not been tested widely as monotherapy but is considered a useful adjuvant modality.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that negative surgical margins seem to be associated to higher disease control rate and that high-grade supraglottic cases likely benefit from addressing neck disease simultaneously.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 134:2578-2584, 2024.

Epidemiological Profile of Salivary Gland Tumors in Southern Iranian Population: A Retrospective Study of 405 Cases

Aims

Salivary gland tumors (SGTs) are a rare and diverse group of tumors that account for 3 to 10% of all head and neck malignancies. We aimed to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of SGTs in the south of Iran and compare the findings with previous reports from Iran and other parts of the world.

Methods

Using a retrospective study, 405 patients diagnosed with SGTs were observed over an eight-year period between April 2013 and October 2021 in Shiraz, Iran. Patients' demographic and clinicopathological features were obtained from patients' records. Quantitative and descriptive data analysis was performed using SPSS software.

Results

There were 302 benign (74.5%) and 103 (25.4%) malignant SGTs. Pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin's tumors were the most common benign SGTs (70.5% and 21.5%, respectively). The most common malignant SGTs were mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma (26.2% and 22.3%, respectively). There was a statistically significant association between tumor origin and its malignancy status (p < 0.001). In addition, the results indicated that benign tumors were most commonly detected in the parotid gland (p < 0.05). The benign tumors were more frequently observed among the younger population (p = 0.006).

Conclusion

In summary, the findings of the current study were mainly consistent with the previous reports from Iran and the rest of the world. Benign tumors were the most prevalent type of SGTs, and the parotid gland was the most common site. While the majority of cases that developed from the major salivary glands were benign, all the minor SGTs were malignant. Older patients were more likely to develop malignant tumors compared to younger ones. This study provides insights into the prevalence, age-related incidence, gender distribution, and geographic variation of salivary gland tumors. This can be instrumental to develop a guideline for screening, diagnosis, and determining an optimal treatment.

A nomogram for distinguishing benign and malignant parotid gland tumors using clinical data and preoperative blood markers: development and validation

PURPOSE

This study aimed to construct and validate a nomogram that incorporated clinical data and preoperative blood markers to differentiate BPGTs from MPGTs more efficiently and at low cost.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent parotidectomy and histopathological diagnosis at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2013 to June 2022. Subjects were randomly divided into training and validation sets with a 7:3 ratio. In the training set, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was performed to select the most relevant features from 19 variables and built a nomogram using logistic regression. We evaluated the model's performance using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, clinical decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curve analysis (CICA).

RESULTS

The final sample consisted of 644 patients, of whom 108 (16.77%) had MPGTs. The nomogram included four features: current smoking status, pain/tenderness, peripheral facial paralysis, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR). The optimal cut-off value for the nomogram was 0.17. The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) of the nomogram were 0.748 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.689-0.807) and 0.754 (95% CI = 0.636-0.872) in the training and validation sets, respectively. The nomogram also showed good calibration, high accuracy, moderate sensitivity, and acceptable specificity in both sets. The DCA and CICA demonstrated that the nomogram had significant net benefits for a wide range of threshold probabilities (0.06-0.88 for the training set; 0.06-0.57 and 0.73-0.95 for the validation set).

CONCLUSION

The nomogram based on clinical characteristics and preoperative blood markers was a reliable tool for discriminating BPGTs from MPGTs preoperatively.

Malignant salivary gland tumours: treatment outcomes from a tertiary referral centre in the UK

Salivary gland malignant tumours are a complex and highly variable pathological group. Their diagnosis can be challenging, and management is guided by multidisciplinary teams. This project aimed to establish clinicopathological and sociodemographic features that significantly impacted overall disease-free or progression-free survival in patients diagnosed with malignant salivary gland disease between 2010 and 2019 in a tertiary referral centre. In total, 86 patients were included for analysis, with a female:male gender ratio of 1.3:1. Mean age at diagnosis was 57.7 years. Mucoepidermoid carcinomas constituted almost 25% (n = 20) of all cases, with adenoid cystic carcinomas (20%, n = 17) and acinic cell carcinomas (17.5%, n = 15) being the next most frequently diagnosed. The parotid gland was the most frequently affected site (80.2%, n = 69). Perineural and lymphovascular invasion, and a maximum tumour dimension of ≥4 cm were highly associated with the decision to provide a neck dissection as part of treatment. Involved margins, extracapsular spread, and lymphovascular and perineural invasion were associated with the need for adjuvant treatment. However, no factors remained statistically significant on multivariate analysis. This retrospective service evaluation demonstrates the difficulty of predicting treatment outcomes for patients diagnosed with malignant salivary gland disease.

Salivary gland cancer: ESMO-European Reference Network on Rare Adult Solid Cancers (EURACAN) Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up

•This ESMO–EURACAN Clinical Practice Guideline provides key recommendations for managing salivary gland cancer. •The guideline covers clinical and pathological diagnosis, staging and risk assessment, treatment and follow-up. •Treatment algorithms for parotid, submandibular, sublingual and minor salivary gland cancer are provided. •The author group encompasses a multidisciplinary group of experts from different institutions and countries in Europe. •Recommendations are based on available scientific data and the authors’ collective expert opinion.

Salivary gland cancers in elderly patients: challenges and therapeutic strategies

Salivary gland carcinomas (SGCs) are the most heterogeneous subgroup of head and neck malignant tumors, accounting for more than 20 subtypes. The median age of SGC diagnosis is expected to rise in the following decades, leading to crucial clinical challenges in geriatric oncology. Elderly patients, in comparison with patients aged below 65 years, are generally considered less amenable to receiving state-of-the-art curative treatments for localized disease, such as surgery and radiation/particle therapy. In the advanced setting, chemotherapy regimens are often dampened by the consideration of cardiovascular and renal comorbidities. Nevertheless, the elderly population encompasses a broad spectrum of functionalities. In the last decades, some screening tools (e.g. the G8 questionnaire) have been developed to identify those subjects who should receive a multidimensional geriatric assessment, to answer the question about the feasibility of complex treatments. In the present article, we discuss the most frequent SGC histologies diagnosed in the elderly population and the relative 5-years survival outcomes based on the most recent data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Moreover, we review the therapeutic strategies currently available for locoregionally advanced and metastatic disease, taking into account the recent advances in precision oncology. The synergy between the Multidisciplinary Tumor Board and the Geriatrician aims to shape the most appropriate treatment pathway for each elderly patient, focusing on global functionality instead of the sole chronological age.

Prognosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma in head and neck region treated with different regimens-A single-centre study

BACKGROUND

No study has evaluated the impact of regimen on recurrence, metastasis and survival in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of radioactive seed implantation and other regimens in treating ACC, so as to investigate the clinical applicability of radioactive seed implantation and determine the indications for this regimen.

METHODS

A total of 188 patients with ACC in oromaxillofacial region were allocated to four groups according to the treatment regimen: group 1 was treated with a combination of surgery and ¹²⁵ I seed therapy, group 2 with a combination of surgery and external radiotherapy, group 3 with surgery, whereas group 4 was untreated. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess the survival rates, and the Cox regression analyses were used to identify the associated prognostic factors.

RESULTS

The overall survival rates of 188 patients and groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 85.7%, 75%, 68.2% and 37.5%, respectively. Cox regression analysis revealed that age, T stage, N stage and regimen were independent prognostic factors of survival. Amongst patients with primary ACC, the efficacy of radioactive seed implantation was higher in those with perineural invasion than in those without.

CONCLUSION

Patient age, T stage, N stage and regimen are independent prognostic factors of survival in patients with ACC. Patients treated with surgery combined with postoperative ¹²⁵ I seed radiotherapy have a higher overall survival rate, and those with perineural invasion are more suitable for radioactive seed implantation therapy.

Radiological features of head and neck mammary analogue secretory carcinoma: 11 new cases with a systematic review of 29 cases reported in 28 publications

PURPOSE

This retrospective study aimed to investigate the radiological features of head and neck mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC) and systematically review previous publications and 11 new cases.

METHODS

We included patients with pathologically proven MASCs with preoperative CT or MRI images, including 11 patients from our hospital and 29 patients from 28 publications extracted after screening 645 abstracts. Two board-certified radiologists reviewed and evaluated all radiological images. The frequency of metastasis during the follow-up period in tumors with well- and ill-defined margins was compared using a Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

The median age at diagnosis was 52.5 years (range, 7-78 years; 20 males). Of the 40 patients, those in their 50 s were the most common (10/40, 25.0%), and the main tumor site was the parotid gland (27/40, 42.5%). Characteristic radiological features included high intensity on T1WI in the cystic components and tumors frequently showed "papillary and cystic," which showed a projection into the cystic components, or "non-papillary and cystic" morphology, which did not show projection of the solid components. Tumor metastasis was found in 10/35 patients (28.6%) during the follow-up period, with a significant difference in frequency between the tumors with well- and ill-defined margin (well-defined (4/26) vs. ill-defined (6/9); P = 0.0074).

CONCLUSION

MASCs are newly recognized malignant tumors. Characteristic T1WI high intensity on MRI and predominant cystic morphology may reflect its unique histological profile. Ill-defined tumor margin status was related to frequent metastasis. Awareness of these characteristic radiological features can assist radiologists in better detection of this novel entity.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma. An indolent but aggressive tumour. Part A: from aetiopathogenesis to diagnosis

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a relatively rare tumour of the minor and major salivary glands. It is uncommon in the parotid gland while it is much more frequent in the submandibular gland and in minor salivary and mucinous glands (oral cavity, oropharynx, and paranasal sinuses). ACC may also arise in secretory glands located in other tissues, such as in the tracheobronchial tree, oesophagus, breast, lungs, prostate, uterine cervix, lachrymal and Bartholin’s glands, and skin. The natural history of ACC is characterised by an indolent growth rate, a relatively low probability of regional lymph node metastases and a high likelihood of haematogenous dissemination. ACC has been traditionally subdivided into three histological groups (cribriform, tubular, and solid) based on solid components of the tumour. Some studies have shown that tumours with a solid growth component have a rapid fatal course, compared to tumours without a solid growth component, but other studies have failed to correlate growth patterns with clinical course. The purpose of this review is to analyse the very large number of studies (sometimes contradictory) on ACC. In this first part, the aetiology, epidemiology, histopathology, clinical behaviour and diagnostic workup are examined.

Overall and cause-specific survival for mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the major salivary glands: Analysis of 2210 patients

BACKGROUND

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a rare malignancy of the head and neck; however, it accounts for a majority of the tumors of the salivary glands. This study used a national population-based registry to describe the pre-treatment and treatment-related prognostic factors that influence survival in patients with MEC of the major salivary glands. To our knowledge, this is the largest population-based study examining predictors of both overall and cause-specific survival of MEC of the major salivary glands.

AIM

To identify prognostic factors influencing overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS) of patients with MEC of the major salivary glands.

METHODS

We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End-Results Database of the National Cancer Institute to investigate a variety of factors that could influence survival of patients diagnosed with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the major salivary glands. A total of 2210 patients diagnosed with MEC of the major salivary glands during the years of 1975-2016 were studied. The primary endpoints were OS and CSS. Cox regression analysis was used to perform univariate and multivariate analyses of clinical variables such as age at diagnosis, diagnosis year, sex, race, tumor size, stage, grade, treatment with or without surgical excision, and adjuvant radiotherapy treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 2210 patients diagnosed with MEC of the major salivary glands met inclusion criteria. In this study, 95% of patients underwent surgical excision and 41% received adjuvant radiation therapy. Median OS time for Grade I, II, and III/IV was 401 mo (± 48.25, 95%CI), 340 mo (± 33.68, 95%CI) and 55 mo (± 11.05, 95%CI), respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that lack of surgical excision was associated with decreased OS [hazard ratio (HR) 4.26, P < 0.0001] and that patients with localized disease had improved OS compared to both regional and distant disease (HR 3.07 and 6.96, respectively, P < 0.0001). Additionally, univariate analysis demonstrated that male sex, age over 50 at diagnosis, Grade III tumors, and increasing tumor size were associated with worsened OS (P < 0.0006). Univariate analysis of CSS similarly revealed that lack of surgical excision and Grade III carcinoma conferred decreased CSS (HR 4.37 and 5.44, respectively, P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis confirmed that increasing age, in 10-year age bands, advanced tumor stage, increasing tumor size, Grade III carcinoma, male sex, and lack of surgical excision were associated with a statistically significant decrease in OS and CSS (P < 0.04). Of note, multivariate analysis revealed that the use of adjuvant radiation therapy was not associated with improved OS or CSS.

CONCLUSION

Multivariate analysis demonstrated increasing age, advanced tumor stage, increasing tumor size, Grade III carcinoma, male sex, and lack of surgical excision were associated with decreased OS and CSS (P < 0.04).

Salivary gland tumours in Iceland 1986-2015: a nationwide epidemiological analysis over a 30-year time period

Salivary gland tumours (SGT) are a vast and heterogenous group of neoplasms. There is a relative lack of comprehensive nationwide epidemiological studies on the subject. The aim of this nationwide analysis was to gain insight into epidemiological traits, such as site, incidence and histological subtypes of SGT in general. Patients diagnosed with a primary SGT between 1986 and 2015 were identified from The Icelandic Cancer Registry and registries from all pathology departments in Iceland. Information on age, sex, tumour location and histology was retrieved from pathology reports. A total of 687 patients were diagnosed with a SGT, 609 (89%) were benign and 78 (11%) malignant. 9% of parotid gland tumours, 22% of submandibular gland tumours and 26% of minor SGT were malignant. The most common malignant tumours were mucoepidermoid carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma. The incidence of benign SGT was 4.9 per 100 000 among men and 7.0 per 100 000 among women. The incidence of malignant tumours was 0.59 per 100 000 for men and 0.79 per 100 000 for women. The proportion of malignant SGT is lower than most often reported. Only 10% of parotid gland tumours, 20% of submandibular gland tumours and 25% of minor salivary gland tumours are malignant.

Risk factors for carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma in patients presenting with recurrence after resection of pleomorphic adenoma

BACKGROUND

In patients presenting with recurrent pleomorphic adenoma (rPA), clinical evaluation can fail to recognize carcinoma ex PA (cxPA). We aim to identify the risk factors for cxPA.

METHODS

This is a single institution retrospective case-control study from 2000 to 2015. CxPA was diagnosed based on surgical pathology. Demographics, clinical, and social histories were collected.

RESULTS

A number of 13/106 (12.3%) patients were diagnosed with cxPA, of which only 4/13 (31%) had clinical features suspicious for malignancy. Compared to benign rPA, factors associated with cxPA included age >50 (odds ratio [OR] 6.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.71-25.98, P < .01), >10 pack-years of smoking history (OR 3.36, 95% CI: 1.01-11.14, P = .04), and the largest tumor being >2 cm on pathology (OR 4.42, 95% CI: 1.14-17.10, P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients presenting with rPA, risk factors for malignant transformation include age >50, significant smoking history, and tumors larger than 2 cm. Clinical signs of malignancy such as rapid growth or pain are not always present.

Molecular patterns in salivary duct carcinoma identify prognostic subgroups

Salivary duct carcinoma (SDCa) is a rare cancer with high rate of metastases and poor survival despite aggressive multimodality treatment. This study analyzes the genetic changes in SDCa, their impact on cancer pathways, and evaluates whether molecular patterns can identify subgroups with distinct clinical characteristics and outcome. Clinicopathologic details and tissue samples from 66 patients (48 males, 18 females) treated between 1995 and 2018 were obtained from multiple institutions. Androgen receptor (AR) was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and the Illumina TruSight 170 gene panel was used for DNA sequencing. Male gender, lympho-vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and smoking were significant predictors of disease-free survival. AR was present in 79%. Frequently encountered alterations were mutations in TP53 (51%), PIK3CA (32%) and HRAS (22%), as well as amplifications of CDK4/6 (22%), ERBB2 (21%), MYC (16%), and deletions of CDKN2A (13%). TP53 mutation and MYC amplifications were associated with decreased disease-free survival. Analysis of cancer pathways revealed that the PI3K pathway was most commonly affected. Alterations in the cell cycle pathway were associated with impaired disease-free survival (HR 2.6, P = 0.038). Three subgroups based on AR and ERBB2 status were identified, which featured distinct molecular patterns and outcome. Among AR positive SDCa, HRAS mutations were restricted to AR positive tumors without ERBB2 amplification and HRAS mutations featured high co-occurrence with PIK3CA alterations, which seems specific to SDCa. AR negative SDCa were associated with poor disease-free survival in multivariate analysis (HR 4.5, P = 0.010) and none of these tumors exhibited ERBB2 amplification or HRAS mutations. AR and ERBB2 status in SDCa thus classifies tumors with distinct molecular profiles relevant to future targeted therapy. Furthermore, clinical factors such as smoking and molecular features such as MYC amplification may serve as markers of poor prognosis of SDCa.

Incidence and survival of rare cancers in the US and Europe

Geographical variability of cancer burden was almost exclusively estimated for common cancers. Since rare cancers (RC) have become an area of priority for basic and clinical research and public health organizations, this paper provides, using a common methodology, a detailed comparison of incidence and survival for RC in the US and Europe. We estimated incidence and net survival of 199 malignant RC from data of 2 580 000 patients collected by 18 US-SEER and 94 European registries, diagnosed within the most recent common period 2000-2007. RC were defined according to the criterion of crude annual incidence rates <6/100 000. In total, 196 RC were classified as rare in both populations. Of these, 43 had incidence rates significantly different by at least 0.2 per 100 000:34 higher in the US and 9 higher in Europe. Five-year net survival for all RC combined significantly differed: 54% in the US and 48% in Europe. Survival for 62 RC was significantly higher in the US vs 6 higher in Europe. Differences were not concentrated in a particular cancer family, and were mostly relevant for cases diagnosed >65+ years of age. Use of standardized methods evidenced that incidence and survival rate of majority of RC were higher in the United States compared to Europe. Possible reasons for such differences, requiring further studies, include distribution of risk factors, ability to diagnose RC, different registration practices, and use of updated International Classification of Diseases for Oncology.

Acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland: from pathogenesis to management: a literature review

PURPOSE

Acinic cell carcinoma (ACCs) is uncommon malignant epithelial neoplasm of the salivary glands; the most common presentation is a well-defined painless solid mass. Diagnosis of ACCs is frequently complicated, due to its similarity with benign tumors.

METHODS

A review of the literature available on ACCs was carried out. Studies were sourced from PubMed with searching of relevant headings and sub-headings and cross-referencing.

RESULTS

There are no clear characteristics of ACCs found on CT, MRI and ultrasound imaging. The management of the ACC, a rare malignancy of the parotid gland, is often difficult and controversial. Radical surgery is the best treatment option. The role of radiotherapy remains controversial: the precise indications and oncologic effects of adjuvant radiotherapy in ACC of the parotid gland are not well known. There is insufficient literature regarding the chemotherapy for metastatic ACC.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge about ACC, a rare malignancy of parotid gland, has changed over the past few decades. More clinical randomized works would be needed, both to assess the real effectiveness of radio and chemotherapy and to have an unanimous consensus about their indications.

MAML2 rearrangement as a useful diagnostic marker discriminating between Warthin tumour and Warthin-like mucoepidermoid carcinoma

Warthin tumour is the second most common benign neoplasm of salivary glands. Despite its relatively characteristic histology, it may sometimes mimic other lesions. Here, we report two female non-smoker patients diagnosed with low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma with oncocytic epithelium and prominent lymphoid (Warthin-like) stroma and with molecularly confirmed MAML2 rearrangement. In addition, we screened a consecutive series of 114 Warthin tumour cases by means of MAML2 break apart fluorescence in situ hybridization to assess its value in differential diagnosis. MAML2 rearrangement was detected in both mucoepidermoid carcinoma cases, while all Warthin tumours were negative. Taking into account the literature data, Warthin-like mucoepidermoid carcinomas are more frequently observed in women, while a slight male predominance and smoking history are typical for Warthin tumour. In addition, the patients with Warthin-like mucoepidermoid carcinoma were significantly younger than those with Warthin tumour. To conclude, Warthin-like mucoepidermoid carcinoma may usually be suspected based on histology, while the diagnosis can be confirmed by means of molecular assays such as FISH. The investigation of MAML2 status is particularly advised when Warthin tumour is considered in a young, non-smoking, female patient.

The impact of age on the outcome of patients treated with radiotherapy for mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the salivary glands in the head and neck: A 15-year single-center experience

INTRODUCTION

Data regarding treatment and survival outcome of patients with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the head and neck are limited to case reports and case series. As a consequence of lacking evidence, treatment guidelines do not exist. We aimed to analyze the effect of modern radiotherapy in form of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) either with simultaneously integrated boost or carbon ion boost on local control and survival for a relatively large patient collective.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patient records of 62 consecutive patients treated with postoperative (n = 53, 85%) or definitive (n = 9, 15%) radiotherapy between 2004 and 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Kaplan-Meier estimates for overall survival (OS), distant progression-free survival (PFS), local control (LC) and locoregional control (LRC) were statistically calculated and prognostic factors were identified using the log-rank test. Toxicity was assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE).

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 47 months (range, 4-188 months). The 3-year OS, DPFS, LC and LRC, estimated by Kaplan-Meier curves, were 82%, 87%, 89% and 92%, the estimated 5-year OS, DPFS, LC and LRC were 78%, 87%, 84% and 88%, respectively. In univariate analysis, age >56 years (vs. age ≤56 years) was identified as the only independent negative prognostic factor for decreased OS (HR = 1.078; 95%-CI = 1.029-1.130; p = 0.001), DPFS (HR = 1.055; 95%-CI = 1.000-1.114; p = 0.051) and LC (HR = 1.087; 95%-CI = 1.022-1.157; p = 0.008). Treatment was well tolerated without any grade ≥4 toxicity. Acute and late grade 3 toxicities were rare with 16% acute (n = 10) and 13% late toxicities (n = 8).

CONCLUSION

Radiotherapy with intensity modulated radiotherapy including either simultaneously integrated photon boost or active raster-scanning carbon ion boost for mucoepidermoid carcinomas of the head and neck resulted in excellent survival outcome and locoregional control with moderate toxicity. However, patients older than 56 years seem to have a disadvantage in all calculated endpoints (OS, DPFS, LRC) due to frequent local and distant relapses.

CONDENSED ABSTRACT

Modern radiotherapy with intensity modulated radiotherapy including either a simultaneously integrated photon boost or carbon ion boost for mucoepidermoid carcinoma results in excellent survival outcome and locoregional control with moderate toxicity. The 5-year OS, DPFS, LC and LRC, estimated by Kaplan-Meier curves, were 89%, 75%, 84% and 80%, respectively. Patients older than 56 years seem to have a disadvantage in all calculated endpoints (OS, DPFS, LRC).

A nomogram to estimate the risk of developing distant metastases in parotid cancer

BACKGROUND

Parotid cancer (PC) is a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors whose management mainly focuses on locoregional control. However, distant metastases (DM) can represent the most common cause of treatment failure. We have defined the predictors and developed a model that can predict a single patient's risk to develop DM.

METHODS

We have analyzed our institutional database of 259 patients with PC and use it to develop a nomogram. C-index and calibration curves were used to assess performance of our model.

RESULTS

DM appeared in 18.9% of patients. Age, cT, pN, perineural invasion, and adenoid cystic carcinoma were significantly associated with distant failure.

CONCLUSIONS

We here present the first model to identify patients with PC at high risk of DM. Such tool can be of great value in managing these rare cancers in terms of a more precise prognosis and follow-up while waiting for better systemic therapies to come in the future.

Impact of payer status on survival in parotid malignancy

OBJECTIVE

In the setting of current national healthcare reform, it becomes especially relevant to understand the current state of healthcare disparities with regards to insurance status. To determine the impact of payer status on survival in parotid malignancy, we utilized the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective database review.

SETTING

National Cancer Database (2004-2012).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The NCDB was queried for cases of primary malignancy of the parotid gland between 2004 and 2012. The impact of payer status on overall survival was evaluated, as well as the relationship of insurance status with patient and tumor variables.

RESULTS

15,815 cases met inclusion criteria. A majority had private insurance (47.8%), followed by Medicare (40.9%), Medicaid (5.0%), uninsured (3.2%) and other government sources (1.3%). Medicare patients had the lowest 5 and 10-year survival rates (50.7% (95% CI [49.3-52.1]) and 27.8% (95% CI [25.0-30.9]), respectively). On multivariable analysis, uninsured, Medicare, and Medicaid patients had worse overall survival than the privately insured (HR 1.42, 95% CI [1.17-1.74]; HR 1.29, 95% CI [1.17-1.42]; HR 1.36, 95% CI [1.13-1.62], respectively). Uninsured and Medicaid patients were more likely than the privately insured to present with advanced stage disease, nodal metastasis and longer times to treatment following diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

In parotid malignancy, uninsured, Medicaid, and Medicare patients have worse survival outcomes compared to those with private insurance. Uninsured and Medicaid patients also present with more advanced stage disease and have increased wait times before definitive treatment is initiated.