The clinical significance for primary tumor surgery in metastatic head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the prognostic significance and optimal candidates for primary tumor surgery (PTS) among patients with metastatic head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma (HNACC).

METHODS

The data were retrieved from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Patients with metastatic HNACC at the initial diagnosis were included in this study. Univariate survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the difference in survival curves between PTS and non-PTS groups was estimated using the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the independent prognostic factors associated with overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS).

RESULTS

Overall, 155 patients were eligible, of whom 93 underwent palliative PTS. Patients with lung metastasis alone were more likely to undergo PTS. PTS was associated with significantly improved OS and CSS compared with non-PTS. In the multivariate model, patients who underwent PTS had better OS than those who did not undergo PTS; however, no improvement was observed in the CSS. Subgroup analyses further revealed that patients aged < 60 years with T3-4 or N0 classification might benefit from PTS.

CONCLUSION

PTS significantly improved the OS of patients with metastatic HNACC. PTS had a favorable prognostic impact on highly selected patients, namely, those aged < 60 years with T3-4 and N0 classification, which could be adopted in future clinical practice.