Nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma: A population-based analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the incidence and determinants of survival of patients with nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma between the years of 1973 to 2012 using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study using a national database.


METHODS
The SEER registry was utilized to calculate survival trends for patients with nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma between 1973 and 2012. Patient data was then analyzed with respect to histopathology, age, sex, race, stage, grade, and treatment modalities (surgery and radiation therapy). Overall (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were calculated.


RESULTS
A total of 148 cases of nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma were identified. The cohort was composed of 54.7% males. The mean age at diagnosis was 59.0years. The median OS was 60.6months. 59.4% of cases were treated with surgery, while 64.1% received radiation therapy. OS at 2, 5, and 10years was 63%, 49%, and 36%, respectively. There was no significant difference in OS and DSS between adenocarcinoma of the nasopharynx versus the sinonasal tract (p>0.05). On univariate analysis, younger age, surgery, surgery and radiation, and lower tumor grade were associated with improved OS and DSS, while papillary subtype, lower stage, and no distant metastasis were associated with improved OS alone (all p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma is an extremely rare malignancy with poor prognosis, with the exception of the papillary subtype. Age, grade, and surgical therapy are predictors of survival.
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States. Electronic address: ewu@mednet.ucla.edu.
Edward C
EC
Kuan
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Jose E
JE
Alonso
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Armin
A
Arshi
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States; UCLA Head and Neck Cancer Program, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Maie A
MA
St John
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018426:SEER Program; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends
Adenocarcinoma; Head and neck surgery; Nasopharyngeal; Otolaryngology