Impact of AJCC 8 pT staging in cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in a nonselected real-world patient sample

Head Neck. 2023 Feb;45(2):337-346. doi: 10.1002/hed.27233. Epub 2022 Nov 7.

Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate characteristics associated with worse survival and the effectiveness of AJCC 8 in a real-world cohort of HNCSCC from South Brazil.

Methods: A 10-year retrospective cohort study (2011-2020) at a tertiary care center comprising 647 HNCSCC excised from 435 patients.

Results: At multivariable analysis, ear/nose/zygomatic or periorbital site, compromised or exiguous margins, and advanced pT stage were independent factors associated to DFS, while age, pN, and loco-regional recurrence were independent factors associated to DSS. Cox-regression multivariable models showed that the pT stage was statistically significant for the DFS, but not DSS. A significant distinction was only observed between T1 and T2.

Conclusion: It was only in the lower categories of AJCC 8 (T1 and T2) that we were able to demonstrate the ability to stratify tumors with a significant risk of poor disease-related outcomes.

Keywords: neoplasm staging; skin neoplasms; squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / surgery
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / pathology