Treatment costs in Hodgkin’s disease

Little information is currently available on the effective use of hospital resources and the resulting costs of treating any childhood cancer in our country. The aim of this study was to estimate direct costs of medical care for Hodgkin's disease (HD). Between January 1989 and June 1998, direct medical cost (DMC) of 53 patients with HD was determined at Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, by chart review. Costs were estimated for initial, continuing, and terminal care. DMC of treatment per patient with HD, based on medicare charges, was calculated to be $3,371. Chemotherapy was the major cost item in DMC. Additional cost items arose depending on the clinical stages of the disease and relapse (p=0.0002). Estimated direct medical costs reported here, may be useful in determining capitation rates, planning budgets, and estimating the aggregate medical care costs for HD. [Turk J Cancer 2000;30(3):105-110]