Abstract
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) are common malignant tumors of the salivary glands. This study aimed to compare ACC and MEC regarding clinical features and survival factors. Data from all ACC and MEC cases between 2000 and 2020 were extracted from the US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Clinical features, overall survival (OS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) were assessed for both cancer types. The study included 1426 ACC cases and 3190 MEC cases. In ACC, 580 patients (40.7%) were male, while in MEC, 1494 patients (46.8%) were male. The mean OS was significantly higher for MEC than for ACC (79.33 ± 58.62 months vs 73.44 ± 57.18 months, P < .001), and the mean DSS was greater for MEC (46.80 ± 39.26 months vs 29.06 ± 29.79 months, P < .001). Independent predictors of worse OS and DSS in ACC included age ≥ 60 years, male gender, submandibular gland involvement, advanced stage, lymph node involvement, distant metastasis, and surgical treatment (all P < .05). This study found that MEC has a significantly better prognosis than ACC, with several common factors linked to worse outcomes for both types, including age ≥60 years and male gender, while surgery acted as a significant protective factor.