The 8th AJCC classification is inferior to a new neck stage based on intraparotid lymph node in parotid gland cancer

Lymph node (LN) status is an important prognostic factor for parotid gland cancer (PGC). This study aimed to analyze the impact of extranodal extension (ENE) of intraparotid LN and LN metastasis burden on survival in PGC.

Patients with surgically treated PGC and at least one metastatic cervical LN were retrospectively enrolled. Primary outcome variables were distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS). The impact of ENE and LN metastasis burden was assessed using the Cox model.

A total of 292 patients were included. ENE in cervical or intraparotid LN was not associated with DMFS, DSS, or OS. Intraparotid LN metastasis had a significant impact on prognosis, and the presence of only one metastatic intraparotid LN offered an approximately 1.5-fold risk of distant metastasis. Prognostic models based on the number of positive LNs (1 vs. 2–3 vs. 4+) were superior to the AJCC N stage in terms of DMFS, DSS, and OS.

ENE of cervical or intraparotid LN has a limited effect on the prognosis of PGC, and the number of positive LNs is better than the AJCC N stage in LN status evaluation.