Prognostic assessment of patients with parotid gland carcinoma: a nomogram based on coagulation-related factors

Abstract

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to construct an effective nomogram based on the clinical and laboratory characteristics to predict the prognosis of patients with parotid gland carcinoma. Methods A total of 125 patients diagnosed with parotid gland carcinoma from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (1999–2016) were retrospectively analyzed, including clinical and pathological data. Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint, and it was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard regression model. The prediction nomogram was constructed based on the clinicopathological factors and coagulation indices, and then evaluated using the concordance index. Results Activated partial thromboplastin time, international normalized ratio, and fibrinogen were risk factors for OS (all P < 0.05), and their comprehensive influence on OS was identified by coagulation scores (CS). The tumor grade, neck dissection, and CS emerged as independent factors for OS according to the multivariable analyses. Based on the nomogram, patients were stratified into low- and high-risk groups and significant differences in OS were found between these groups (P < 0.0001). The concordance index of this nomogram was 0.762 (SE = 0.035), higher than that of the T-stage (C-index = 0.652; SE = 0.039) and N-stage (C-index = 0.663; SE = 0.043). Conclusions We established and validated a prognostic nomogram including coagulation factors. The proposed nomogram presented a better prediction ability for the survival of patients with parotid gland carcinoma.