Clinical, laboratory, pathological, and radiological characteristics and prognosis of patients with pulmonary salivary gland-type tumors

Purpose Primary pulmonary salivary gland-type tumor (PSGT) included two main subtypes, pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma (PACC) and pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (PMEC). The purpose of this study was to compare the similarities and differences between these two subtypes and to identify independent risk factors for the prognosis of PSGT patients. Methods This study screened patients with a pathological diagnosis of PSGT in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital between 2010 and 2021. The clinical, pathological, radiological, laboratory test, and other characteristics were collected, and t, nonparametric and chi-squared tests were used to compare the differences in clinical characteristics of the two subtypes. COX univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore prognostic-related risk factors. Results A total of 62 patients with PSGT were included in our center over a 12-year period. There were 26 PMEC patients and 36 PACC patients. There were differences in the clinical, pathological, and radiological features of the two tumor subtypes. Univariate analysis showed that weight loss, chemotherapy, white blood cells, lymphocytes, red blood cells, total protein, and total bilirubin might be related to the prognosis in PSGT patients. Multivariate results showed that lymphocytes (p = 0.031), red blood cells (p = 0.047), total protein (p = 0.032), and total bilirubin (p = 0.010) were independent prognostic risk factors. Chemotherapy (HR 4.452; 95% CI 1.723-11.503; p = 0.002) might be associated with progression-free survival (PFS). Conclusion The two subtypes of PSGT had significantly different clinical, laboratory, pathological, and radiological features. However, there was no significant difference in the prognosis of patients with PMEC and PACC subtypes. Cox univariate and multivariate analyses showed that levels of lymphocytes, erythrocytes, total protein and total bilirubin in the peripheral blood of PSGT patients might be related to patient overall survival. Chemotherapy might also be associated with PFS.