Treatment of basal cell carcinomas by general practitioners in Australia.
BACKGROUND
Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are a relatively common form of skin damage in Australians, involving approximately 1 in 200 general practice encounters per year.


OBJECTIVE
To determine current treatments and the associated healthcare resource costs of BCC therapy in Australia.


METHODS
A retrospective survey was undertaken relating to the treatment of patients presenting to their doctor with previously untreated BCCs. Data were collected from a sample of general practitioners who were asked to randomly select two BCC patients from their medical records and complete a questionnaire. Information about treatment types, number of doctor visits, treatment complications, and specialist referrals was extracted from the patient records.


RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-four patients were recruited into the study (59% male), who were treated for a total of 244 BCCs (average of 1.5 lesions per patient). Twenty-two per cent of patients were referred to a specialist, most being referred to a general surgeon (45%) or plastic surgeon (25%). Excision was the preferred therapy; second choices were cryosurgery or curettage and cautery. Few adverse events were recorded. The typical number of doctor visits varied from 3.2 to 7.4, with a range of total cost per patient of 146.60-496.20 AUS dollars, depending on complexity and the need for referral.


CONCLUSIONS
With a reported incidence in Australia of approximately 788 per 100,000 persons, BCCs are not inexpensive to treat for such a relatively common condition.
Streeton
Catherine L
CL
Monash University, Austin Repatriation Medical Center, West Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. streetonc@c031.aone.net.au
Gospodarevskaya
Elena
E
Harris
Anthony
A
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001315:Australia; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D002425:Cautery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003475:Curettage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010821:Physicians, Family; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007372:Interferons