Study design and study population
The SEER database is a premier source for cancer statistics in the US;
it includes information on cancer incidence, treatment, and survival for
approximately 30% of the US population. Information on the status of
lung metastases in hypo-pharyngeal cancer from 2010 to 2014 at the time
of initial cancer diagnosis was released in 2017. By using the SEER
database, 2833 patients aged 20 years or older who were diagnosed with
hypo-pharyngeal cancer between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014
were identified. Patients whose lung metastases status at time of
diagnosis was either unknown or not applicable, or patients who didn’t
schedule a follow-up appointment were excluded, eventually leaving 2714
patients in the final cohort.
Reporting guideline: Secondary data analysis