Related Experiment Videos
Free tissue transfer versus pedicled flap cost in head and neck cancer
Gerry F Funk1, Lucy Hynds Karnell, Stacey Whitehead
1Department of Otolaryngology and Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, USA.
Objective:
We sought to compare the overall 1-year management costs for patients receiving a free tissue transfer with those of patients receiving a pedicled flap reconstruction as a component of their primary head and neck cancer treatment.
Study Design And Setting:
Case-control, cost identification analysis of 21 matched pairs of patients and multivariate analysis of variables associated with treatment costs was conducted in a tertiary referral academic institution.
Results:
No significant difference in total 1-year charges between the pedicled and free tissue transfer groups was found. A structured measure of patient comorbidity was the only variable significantly associated with total 1-year charges.
Conclusions:
Total 1-year treatment costs of primary upper aerodigestive tract cancers are similar for patients reconstructed with free tissue transfer or a pedicled flap.
Significance:
Within the context of overall 1-year management costs, the primary determinants of health care expense for these patients are comorbidity and extent of disease, not reconstructive technique.