Clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of head and neck mucoepidermoid carcinoma in children and adolescents: A population-based analysis.
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PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of head and neck mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) in children, with a focus on identifying significant clinical factors affecting prognosis. METHODS: We analyzed pediatric patients aged ≤19 years diagnosed with head and neck MEC between 2000 and 2022 in the SEER database. Descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and multivariate Cox regression models were employed to examine patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment modalities, and overall survival (OS). A nomogram was developed to predict OS based on significant predictors. RESULTS: Of the 323 patients, parotid gland being the most common tumor site (55.7%), followed by the palate (including both hard and soft palate) (27.6%). The majority of tumors were localized (70.9%) and of lower grade (Grade I-II, 67.2%). Surgery was performed in 95.6% of cases. Multivariate analysis identified age, tumor site, and grade as independent predictors of OS. Patients aged 0-14 years, those tumors located in palate, or those with Grade I-II tumors had better prognosis. The nomogram developed demonstrated good accuracy, with AUC values of 0.715, 0.617, and 0.58 for 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival, respectively. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that younger age, palate site, and lower grade tumors are associated with improved survival in pediatric HNMEC. The developed nomogram provides a valuable tool for predicting survival outcomes. Further validation of the model is warranted to enhance clinical decision-making.