Survival Outcomes of BSCC Variant Compared with SCC of the Head and Neck: A Cross-Sectional SEER-Based Analysis

Purpose Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is known as an aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with lower survival rates, mostly because of the increased incidence of distant metastases. Our objective was to provide an update on the clinicopathological presentation and prognosis of BSCC. Methods A total of 3,327 BSCC patients and 84,724 conventional-type SCC patients were identified via the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Clinicopathologic data were compared via chi-square analysis. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to estimate overall survival (OS), and the independent effect of BSCC on OS was assessed via multivariate regression analysis. Results The oral cavity was the most common site for BSCC and SCC (45.3%). More BSCC patients presented with advanced-stage disease (87.8% vs. 79.3%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that OS was significantly better in the BSCC group when the tumours were located in the tonsils, followed by the oral cavity, oropharynx and nasopharynx. OS was also high in patients who underwent curative surgical, radiological or chemotherapy. It was worse for BSCC patients with hypopharyngeal tumours. Conclusions BSCC’s propensity for advanced-stage presentation was confirmed in this study. However, BSCC has a better prognosis than conventional-type SCC. Our analysis revealed a male predominance in BSCC, with a mean age of 60. However, males had a lower hazard of death in both samples. Both groups exhibited a predominant representation of white ethnicity.