Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the base of tongue: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to assess demographic and survival patterns in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the base of tongue. METHODS: Patients were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database from 1973 through 2012 and were categorized by age, gender, race, historical stage A, and treatment. Incidence and survival were compared with Kaplan Meier curves and mortality hazard ratios. RESULTS: A total of 216 patients were included. After adjusting for age, gender, race and tumor-directed treatment, patients over the age of 70years had a significantly increased mortality [HR=2.847, 95% CI (1.499, 5.404) p=0.0014]. Furthermore mortality among patients with distant disease was significantly increased [HR=2.474 95% CI (1.459, 4.195) p=0.00008]. CONCLUSION: By examining the largest collection of patients we have demonstrated that there is a significant difference in mortality based on both the age at diagnosis and in the setting of distant disease.