(A608) Prognostic Factors of Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma within the Head and Neck: A National Cancer Database Analysis

Introduction: To characterize and evaluate the demographic and prognostic profile of Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma (MEC) within the head and neck and correlate findings with survival.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried from 2004 - 2021 for ICD-10 codes specific for all head and neck structures with histologically confirmed MEC. Using IBM SPSS and GraphPad Prism, statistical analyses were conducted via variable frequency with cross-analysis and Chi-square tests, Kaplan Meier Survival Curves with Log-Rank Pairwise Comparisons, and Cox Proportional Hazards Regression Models.

Results: A total of 17,713 patients were included. Significant findings include worsened survival in relation to male sex, white race, non-Hispanic ethnicity, Medicare insurance, living in a large metro area, and not having surgery performed. Rare primary sites such as hypopharynx, larynx, nose, oropharynx, and tongue most commonly presented at stage IV. Despite surgery vastly improving survival, the majority of patients with MEC in the esophagus, hypopharynx, nasopharynx, pharynx, and tonsil did not undergo any surgery. Black communities were overrepresented in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal primary sites. Lastly, the younger 20-39 year-old cohort had increased frequency of rare primary sites, as opposed to older cohorts having increased frequency of classic MEC primary sites.

Conclusions: By identifying key determinants of survival, this work provides valuable clinical insight into patient management and outcomes for a rare yet clinically significant malignancy. Additionally, this study comments on the role of urbanization and accessible health care, environmental exposure, and social determinants of health regarding MEC.