Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin induces considerable sustained cost of care in organ transplant recipients

Background Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most frequent cancer in organ transplant recipients (OTR). Objective We retrospectively analyzed the cost of dermatologic care in our OTR specialty clinic. Methods We collected billing data for OTR (n = 198) seen at the Dermatology Department of Zurich...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2012-12, Vol.67 (6), p.1242-1249
Main Authors: Rüegg, Christian P, Graf, Nicole, PhD, Mühleisen, Beda, MD, Szucs, Thomas D., MD, French, Lars E., MD, Surber, Christian, PhD, Hofbauer, Günther F.L., MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - economics
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - therapy
cost of care
Dermatology
Female
Health Care Costs
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
nonmelanoma skin cancer
organ transplant recipients
Organ Transplantation
Postoperative Complications - economics
Postoperative Complications - therapy
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Retrospective Studies
Skin Neoplasms - economics
Skin Neoplasms - therapy
squamous cell carcinoma
Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions
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Summary:Background Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most frequent cancer in organ transplant recipients (OTR). Objective We retrospectively analyzed the cost of dermatologic care in our OTR specialty clinic. Methods We collected billing data for OTR (n = 198) seen at the Dermatology Department of Zurich University Hospital over 4 years (2004-2007). Grouping by histology yielded the groups: SCC (n = 70), with SCC occurring within the observation period; past SCC (n = 40), with SCC before the observation period; in situ SCC (n = 13), when only in situ SCC had been diagnosed; biopsy negative (n = 49) for SCC and in situ SCC; and no biopsy ever (n = 26) within the observation period. Results Median annual costs for dermatologic care were US$1398 for SCC; US$776 for past SCC; US$308 for in situ SCC; US$211 for biopsy negative; and US$156 for no biopsy ever. Median cost per case of invasive SCC (US$1830) was higher than cost per case of in situ SCC (US$603). Regression analysis showed male sex ( P  = .006), age at transplantation ( P  = .001), and time since transplantation ( P  
ISSN:0190-9622
1097-6787
DOI:10.1016/j.jaad.2012.03.033