Prognosis of primary tracheal tumor: A population-based analysis

To elucidate the survival outcomes of tracheal tumors and to propose the potential stage of tracheal tumors.

All cases of primary tracheal malignant tumors were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (SEER) during 1973-2013. The overall survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression was utilized to identify the prognostic factors.

A total of 287 cases were finally included. The median age of the patients was 59 years. Male patients accounted for 56.1%. The median survival was 57 months. Patients were categorized as Extension1 to 4 (E1-4) and N0-N3. E1 group with size <4 cm had the best prognosis. While E1 >4 cm, E2 and E3 <3 cm groups had similar outcomes, which were superior to E3 >3 cm group. E4 was the worst. N0 patients had ideal prognosis, which were better than N1 and N2 patients. The 3-year survival rates of each T category were 74.7%, 57.3%, 28.1%, and 9.1%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, age, histology, tumor size, and extension were independent prognostic factors.

Patients with old age, large tumor size, advanced extension or no surgery may have worse prognosis. The proposed T category of tracheal tumor incorporating tumor extension and size helped to predict survival outcomes.