Rising Incidence With Modest Survival Improvement in Salivary Duct Carcinoma: A Population‐Based Study in the United States, 2000–2022
Dongbin Ahn, Jingjing Hu, Tomoya Kurokawa, Joseph CalifanoABSTRACT
Background
Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy with limited population‐based data.
Methods
Incidence trends and survival outcomes were analyzed using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.
Results
A total of 955 cases were identified. The age‐adjusted incidence rate increased from 0.158 in 2000 to 1.18 in 2022 (average annual percent change, 10.38%; p < 0.001), accelerating after 2012. Increases were more pronounced among females, older patients, regional‐stage disease, and tumors > 2 cm. The 5‐year disease‐specific survival (DSS) and overall survival were 60.6% and 51.2%, respectively. Advanced age, non‐parotid site, larger tumor size, lymph node metastasis, advanced stage, and non‐surgical management were independent predictors of worse DSS. Patients diagnosed in 2013–2022 showed better DSS compared with those in 2004–2012 (64.7% vs. 52.0%, p = 0.048).
Conclusion
SDC incidence has increased rapidly, possibly reflecting improved diagnostic recognition and reclassification, with only modest survival improvement over the past decade.