Racial and Ethnic Differences in Patient Presentation and Treatments in Head and Neck Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Head and neck dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (HNDFSP) is a rare skin cancer known for local invasiveness and recurrence, with limited data on racial variations.
• Existing research suggests potential racial and ethnic differences in HNDFSP, necessitating further investigation into clinical factors influencing treatment and prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze demographic characteristics and survival outcomes of HNDFSP patients across different racial and ethnic groups.
• To identify potential disparities in presentation, socioeconomic factors, and overall survival among diverse HNDFSP patient populations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to extract data for HNDFSP cases diagnosed between 2004 and 2016.
• Employed chi-squared and t-tests for demographic comparisons, and Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses for survival assessments.
• Included 778 patients, categorizing them by race/ethnicity: White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, and Other.

Main Results:

• White patients (67.6%) were older at presentation (43.8 years) compared to Black (38.9 years) and Hispanic (37.9 years) patients (p=0.02).
• White patients demonstrated significantly higher income, insurance rates, and educational attainment (p<0.0001 for all).
• No statistically significant differences in 5-year (96.1%) or 10-year (92.0%) overall survival were observed across racial groups.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences in HNDFSP presentation, including age, income, insurance status, and education, exist among racial groups.
• Despite demographic and socioeconomic disparities, overall survival rates for HNDFSP were comparable across racial categories in this cohort.
• Further research focusing on morbidity is recommended to fully understand the impact of these disparities on HNDFSP patient outcomes.