Number of positive lymph nodes is superior to neck stage of the 8th AJCC in predicting prognosis in parotid mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To clarify the impact of the number of positive lymph nodes (LNs) on the prognosis of parotid mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC). METHODS: Patients who underwent neck dissection for parotid MEC were retrospectively enrolled. The primary outcome variable was overall survival (OS). Associations between OS and LN factors, including the AJCC N stage, intraparotid LN metastasis, number of positive LNs, LN size, and extranodal extension (ENE), were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 720 patients were included with a mean age of 56 +/- 16 years. There was no additional survival compromise until two positive LNs were presented. After adjusting for the number of positive LNs, intraparotid LN metastasis, ENE, and LN size were not related to prognosis. Our proposed N stage based on the number of metastatic LNs (0/1 vs. 2-4 vs. 5+) showed a superior C-index to the AJCC N stage in OS prediction. CONCLUSION: Quantitative LN burden was an important determinant of prognosis, and the proposed N stage provided better OS stratification than the AJCC N stage.