Clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic analysis of lymphoepithelial carcinoma of salivary gland: a population-based study

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to elucidate the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with lymphoepithelial carcinoma of salivary gland (LEC-SG) and determine the factors associated with survival.MethodsA total of 179 LEC-SG patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 1975 to 2016 were included. The clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival of LEC-SG patients were described, and the features affecting prognosis were further determined using Kaplan-Meier Curves and Cox survival analysis.ResultsThe median overall survival of LEC-SG patients was 206 months, and the 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-year survival rates were 91.0%, 80.2%, 66.4%, and 37.6%, respectively. The prognoses were significantly associated with age, ethnicity, marital status, tumor invasion, as well as lymph node metastases [P<0.01 for all). Surgical resection could significantly improve the prognosis of this disease (median overall survival (mOS): 219 vs. 68 months, P<0.01]. Postoperative radiotherapy could improve long-term survival and decrease the risk of death among patients who survive exceed 10-year after surgery. The Cox regression analysis showed that old age (>60 years) and lymph node metastases were independently associated with poor survival (P<0.05 for both). Conversely, the use of surgery was an independent favorable prognostic factor [hazard ratio (HR) 0.29, 95% CI: 0.13-0.66].ConclusionsLEC-SG patients had a favorable prognosis with a mOS of 206 months. Old age, lymph node metastases, the use of surgery were independently associated with survival of LEC-SG patients.