title: Squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland: a population-based analysis of 2545 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the parotid gland is an uncommon tumor, which generally affects older patients. In this study, we explore various aspects of this entity using a national population-based database.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry was used to extract data on frequency, incidence, and disease-specific survival (DSS) from 1973 to 2009. Variables analyzed included age, gender, race, histologic grade, stage and treatment. Cox proportional hazards analysis was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2545 cases were identified. Parotid SCC was most common in males (79.8%), whites (92.9%), and patients aged ≥75 years (51.4%). Incidence increased slightly over the past three decades (annual percent change 1.90%, p<0.05). Overall 5-year DSS was 54.4%. Statistically significant poor prognostic factors included black race, age ≥75 years, tumor T3 or greater, and higher clinical stage at diagnosis. Elective neck dissection (END) in patients staged N0 was associated with higher DSS (78.3% versus 51.1%, p<0.0001). The omission of END was associated with a three-fold greater hazard of death (hazard ratio 3.19, 95% confidence interval 1.53-7.26, p=0.0016), regardless of whether or not radiotherapy was given.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parotid SCC is uncommon, and data on treatment decisions are limited. Our study profiles the demographic, clinicopathologic, incidence, and survival features of this entity. Perhaps most notably, our results support the practice of END of the N0 neck.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pfisterer
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Leila J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Mady
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Mohemmed N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA; Center for Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery, Neurological Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Soly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baredes
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA; Center for Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery, Neurological Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA. Electronic address: Jean.anderson.eloy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jean Anderson
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Eloy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018426:SEER Program; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult