TITLE:
The Pattern and Cost of Palliative Surgeries in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma
AUTHORS:
Zhongyun Zhao, Song Wang, Beth L. Barber
KEYWORDS:
Metastatic Melanoma, Surgery Cost, Healthcare Costs, Claims Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.6 No.3,
March
9,
2015
ABSTRACT: Objective: To investigate the pattern of palliative surgeries and
associated costs in patients with metastatic melanoma in the USA. Methods: This
was a retrospective claims-based study of patients identified using
administrative claims from MarketScan®databases among patients
with metastatic melanoma diagnosed between 2005 and 2011. Patient
characteristics, patterns and cost of surgery, and length of hospital stay were
evaluated. Results: Of the 2399 patients identified, 888 (37.0%) underwent at
least one surgical procedure either in the outpatient or inpatient setting. The
subgroup of patients who underwent surgery included significantly more patients
with distant skin metastases compared to the subgroup who did not receive
surgery; whereas significantly more patients in the non-surgery group had brain
or bone metastases. Surgery performed in the outpatient setting was
predominantly on the skin, whereas surgery on the brain was generally performed
in the inpatient setting. The mean cost of the surgical procedures performed in
the outpatient setting was $3393 (median: $1419) per procedure, which varied
according to the location of the metastasis. For surgical procedures that were
performed in the inpatient setting, the mean length of stay in hospital due to
surgery was 4.4 (± 5.1) days, at a mean cost of $37,649 (median: $28,067) per
hospitalization. Conclusions: Surgery is prevalent and costly in patients with
metastatic melanoma.