The costs of head and neck oncology: primary tumours, recurrent tumours and long-term follow-up

We retrospectively calculated the costs of head and neck oncology for reimb ursement purposes. This analysis was based on 854 head and neck cancer pati ents treated between 1994 and 1996 in two major Dutch University hospitals. To anticipate future care costs, costs of required improvements in the qua lity of care were added. Costs of diagnosis, treatment and 2 years or follo w-up of patients with a primary tumour were (Euro)21 858. For patients with a recurrent tumour. this amount was (Euro)27 629. Tile costs of 10 years o f follow-up were (Euro)423 after discounting and correction for survival. I n total, average costs per new patient were (Euro)31 829, which covered dis counted costs of treating the primary tumour, costs of treating recurrent t umours in 40% of all patients and the costs of 10 years of follow-up. Costs of improving the quality of care were estimated to be (Euro)1598 per new p atient. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.