Traditional versus streamlined management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC): A cost analysis.
BACKGROUND
Facing rising incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and increasing pressure to contain health care spending, physicians need to contemplate cost-effective paradigms for managing BCC.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to perform a cost analysis comparing the traditional BCC management scheme with a simplified detect-and-treat scheme that eliminates the biopsy before initiating definitive treatment.


METHODS
A decision analytic model was developed to compare the costs of traditional BCC management with the detect-and-treat scheme, under which qualifying lesions diagnosed clinically were either treated with shave removal or referred to Mohs micrographic surgery for on-site histologic check. Values for model parameters were based on literature and our institutional data analysis. Costs were based on 2014 Medicare fee schedule.


RESULTS
The average cost per lesion with detect-and-treat scheme was $449 for non-Mohs micrographic surgery-indicated lesions (vs $566 with traditional management, $117 in savings) and $819 for Mohs micrographic surgery-indicated lesions (vs $864 with traditional management, $45 in savings). The combined weighted average savings per case was $95 (15% of total average cost). Conclusions were similar under various plausible scenarios.


CONCLUSIONS
Model parameter values may vary based on individual practices.


CONCLUSIONS
A simplified management strategy eliminating routine pretreatment biopsy can reduce BCC treatment cost without compromising quality of care.
Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Hauppauge, New York.
Xinyuan
X
Wu
Center for Health Policy and Outcomes, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Elena B
EB
Elkin
Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Hauppauge, New York.
Chih-Shan
CS
Jason Chen
Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Hauppauge, New York. Electronic address: marghooa@mskcc.org.
Ashfaq
A
Marghoob
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000191:economics*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery*; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003663:Decision Trees; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000191:economics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery*; D014481:United States
basal cell carcinoma; chemocheck; cost analysis; decision analysis model; detect-and-treat scheme; shave removal