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Temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma: Analyzing prognosis with univariate and multivariate models
Author(s) -
Zanoletti Elisabetta,
Marioni Gino,
Stritoni Paola,
Lionello Marco,
Giacomelli Luciano,
Martini Alessandro,
Mazzoni Antonio
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.24400
Subject(s) - medicine , univariate analysis , multivariate analysis , stage (stratigraphy) , lymph node , malignancy , basal cell , oncology , surgery , paleontology , biology
Objectives/Hypothesis Temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an uncommon malignancy accounting for less than 0.2% of head and neck cancers. Despite advances in its early diagnosis, skull base microsurgery, radiotherapy, and integrated treatments, prognosis in advanced SCCs remains dismal. The present study aimed to analyze the clinicopathological variables potentially influencing outcome in a series of temporal bone SCCs. Study Design The prognosis of 41 patients with temporal bone SCC was assessed retrospectively using univariate and multivariate statistical approaches. Patients and Methods Twenty‐two women and 19 men consecutively operated for primary temporal bone SCC with a curative intent at a tertiary referral center between 1980 and 2008. Results On univariate analysis, cT stage correlated with disease‐free survival in months (DFS) ( P = 0.037), and pT stage correlated with recurrence rate ( P = 0.038), DFS ( P = 0.013), and disease‐specific survival (DSS) ( P = 0.025). Lymph node status (cN 0 or pN 0 vs. pN+) was associated with DFS ( P = 0.025). SCC grading correlated significantly with recurrence rate ( P = 0.005), DFS ( P = 0.004), and DSS ( P = 0.0036). Dura mater involvement was significantly associated with a higher recurrence rate ( P = 0.001), a shorter DFS ( P = 0.00001), and a lower DSS ( P = 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, only dura mater involvement ( P = 0.001) and N status ( P = 0.012) remained independently prognostic of DFS. Conclusion Recurrences occurred despite obtaining block resections according to the tumor's clinical stage and pathologically free margins in all cases. Further analyses are mandatory to investigate hidden microscopic pathways of tumor diffusion, particularly in bone. Multi‐institutional protocols are needed to facilitate comparisons between studies and enable meaningful meta‐analyses. Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope , 124:1192–1198, 2014