Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: location means everything.
OBJECTIVE
Head and neck basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is increasingly recognized as a malignancy with an evolving duel behavior. Our objective was to describe the site-specific presentation and prognosis of head and neck BSCC in comparison to conventional-type squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) using population-based data.


METHODS
A total of 1,083 BSCC patients and 66,929 conventional-type SCC patients, diagnosed between 2000 and 2008, were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Clinicopathologic data were compared using χ(2) analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate site-stratified disease-specific survival (DSS). BSCC's independent effect on DSS was assessed by multivariable regression analysis.


RESULTS
The oropharynx (61.9%) was the most frequent BSCC site; compared to the larynx (33.3%) in conventional-type SCC. More BSCC patients presented with advanced-stage disease (78.4% vs. 60.1%, P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, DSS was significantly better in the BSCC group when tumors were located in the oropharynx. Conversely, DSS was worse for BSCC patients with laryngeal tumors. DSS was similar among patients with sinonasal, nasopharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and oral tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
BSCC's propensity for advanced-stage presentation was confirmed in this study. However, BSCC appears to carry a paradoxically similar, or better, prognosis compared to conventional-type SCC in most cases.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
Valerie A
VA
Fritsch
Eric J
EJ
Lentsch
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D018426:SEER Program; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
SEER database; basaloid squamous cell carcinoma; head and neck; prognosis