Prognostic factors and occult nodal disease in mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx: An analysis of the National Cancer Database

MEC of the OC/OP has an excellent survival as the majority of these patients have low/intermediate grade and early stage disease. Negative prognosticators include increasing age, male sex, Charlson/Deyo comorbidity score of 2+, clinical T3-4 tumors, nodal+ disease, high grade tumors and positive margins. Our findings justify strong consideration of prophylactic neck dissection for high grade and clinical T3-4 tumors.