[Therapeutic modalities and economic assessment in the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinomas and multiple actinic keratoses by French dermatologists].
BACKGROUND
To date, no prospective studies have been conducted in France describing the management of actinic keratoses (AK) and superficial basal cell carcinomas (sBCC). The aim of the present study was to describe the therapeutic modalities for AK and sBCC adopted by French dermatologists and to determine the direct annual medical costs.


METHODS
This was a prospective, observational study conducted in France between January and June 2004 in a random selection of representative dermatologists (n=202). The first 5 adult patients seen for one or more sBCCs and the first patient with at least 4 AKs over a period of four non-consecutive weeks were included in the study. The following data were recorded using a standardized questionnaire at inclusion: date of birth, gender, habitat, professional activity, social insurance regimen, site, number and maximum size of lesions. The therapeutic modalities, the physicians involved and the laboratory examinations during the 3 months following diagnosis were recorded prospectively. Medical management costs were calculated taking into account the usual parameters (e.g. French nomenclature of medical acts).


RESULTS
512 patients with sBCC (mean age: 69 years; sex-ratio M/F: 0.92) were included in the study. sBCC was isolated in 80% of cases, measured less than 2 cm in 90%, and was located on the head/neck in 51% and on the trunk in 37%. Histological confirmation of diagnosis of BCC was obtained in 85% of cases. Treatment comprised surgical excision in 70% of cases, cryotherapy in 13%, topical therapy in 7% and curettage/electrodessication in 4%. Clinical follow-up was performed in 79% of cases. The mean cost per patient over 3 months was 139 euros (CI95%: 125-153). In addition, 226 patients with AK (mean age: 76 years; sex-ratio M/F: 2.1) were included in the study. AKs were located on the head/neck in 74% of cases and on the trunk in 6%. Treatment consisted of cryotherapy in 92% of cases. The mean cost per patient over 3 months was calculated at 85 euros (CI95%: 71-99). An on-site audit of 5% of the investigators gave a concordance rate of 98.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study conducted in France to evaluate both the medical approach and treatment costs of sBCC and AK. Finally, the mostly surgical treatment of sBCC observed is in accordance with the recent French ANAES guidelines. When extrapolating the results of the present study, the annual cost of treatment of sBCC by French dermatologists may be estimated at between 10.2 and 10.6m euros.
Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Robert Debré, Reims.
P
P
Bernard
A
A
Dupuy
P
P
Brun
A
A
Sasko
G
G
Duru
N
N
Nicoloyannis
L
L
Decuypere
J-J
JJ
Grob
D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006257:Head; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000191:economics; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013909:Thorax