title: Cost Analysis of Intraoperative Subareolar Frozen Section During Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Permanent paraffin subareolar biopsy during nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) tests for occult cancer at the nipple-areolar complex. Intraoperative subareolar frozen section can provide earlier detection intraoperatively. Cost analysis for intraoperative subareolar frozen section has never been performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  NSM cases from 2006-2013 were reviewed. Patient records including financial charges were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 480 subareolar biopsies for NSM from 2006-2013, 21 were abnormal (4.4 %). A total of 307 of the subareolar biopsies included intraoperative frozen section. Of the 307, 12 (3.9 %) were abnormal with 7 of 12 detected on intraoperative frozen section. The median baseline charge for an intraoperative subareolar frozen section was $309 for an estimated total cost of $94,863 in 307 breasts. The median baseline charge for interval operative resection of a nipple-areolar complex following an abnormal subareolar pathology result was $11,021. Intraoperative subareolar biopsy avoided an estimated six return trips to the operating room for savings of $66,126. At our institution, routine use of intraoperative frozen section resulted in an additional $28,737 in healthcare charges or $95 per breast.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present the first cost analysis to evaluate intraoperative subareolar frozen section in NSM. This practice obviated an estimated six return trips to the operating room. With our institutional frequency of abnormal subareolar pathology, intraoperative frozen sections resulted in a marginal increased charge per mastectomy.
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. michael.alperovich@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alperovich
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Mihye
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Nolan S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Karp
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jordan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Axelrod
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Amber A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Guth
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000191:economics*; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000191:economics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009558:Nipples / Q000473:pathology*; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments / Q000191:economics*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies