Prognosis of patients with primary malignant main stem bronchial tumors: 7,418 cases based on the SEER database

Background The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for patients with malignant main stem bronchial tumors (MBTs) and to develop a nomogram for predicting prognosis in those patients using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Method A process was used for case screening from the SEER database. The effect of prognostic factors on survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test, a competing risk model, and the Cox proportional hazards regression model. A nomogram was established for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) in patients with MBTs. Results A total of 7,418 cases were included in this study. Age, gender, pathologic grade, histologic type, tumor size, involvement of lymph nodes, tumor extension, chemotherapy, and surgery were identified as independent risk factors by univariate and multivariate analyses. A nomogram was established based on the results of the Cox model, which was validated by a C-index of 0.672 (95% CI, 0.664-0.680), and a group of calibration plots. Conclusion Age, gender, pathologic grade, histologic type, tumor size, involvement of lymph nodes, tumor extension, chemotherapy, and surgery were independent risk factors for OS of patients with MBTs. A nomogram was formulated to predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS in patients with MBTs based on individual clinical characteristics.