Trends and Disparities in Mortality from Malignant Parotid Gland Tumors in the United States, 1999-2023: A Population-Based Analysis.

Abstract

Introduction: Malignant parotid gland tumors account for less than 1% of all cancers yet represent a substantial proportion of head and neck malignancies. Long-term mortality trends and demographic disparities remain poorly defined. This study examined mortality trends and disparities across demographic and geographic subgroups in the United States.

Methods: This repeated cross-sectional study analyzed CDC WONDER death certificate data for malignant parotid gland tumors (ICD-10-CM C07) from 1999 to 2023. AAMRs were calculated using the 2000 US standard population. Joinpoint regression estimated APCs and AAPCs with 95% CIs. Mortality was stratified by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and geography.

Results: During the study period, 15,133 deaths from malignant parotid gland tumors were recorded. Annual deaths increased from 491 in 1999 to 696 in 2023, but the overall AAMR remained stable (AAPC = -0.09, 95% CI, -0.43 to 0.25). Declines were observed among females, males, adults aged 45 to 74 years, the Northeast region, Florida, and New York. Mortality increased among adults aged 85 years or older (AAPC = 1.22, 95% CI, 0.67 to 1.77). Trends for NH White and NH Black populations were stable; smaller race/ethnicity groups had limited or unstable estimates.

Conclusion: Overall mortality from malignant parotid gland tumors remained stable from 1999 to 2023. This stable national pattern masked declines in selected strata and increasing mortality among adults aged 85 years or older. Because CDC WONDER lacks clinical, treatment, socioeconomic, and tumor-specific variables, these findings should be interpreted as descriptive mortality patterns rather than causal evidence.