Abstract

SOUZA, Reynaldo José Sant’Anna Pereira de et al. An estimate of the cost of treating mlanoma disease in the state of Sao Paulo - Brazil. An. Bras. Dermatol. [online]. 2009, vol.84, n.3, pp. 237-243. ISSN 1806-4841.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0365-05962009000300004.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to estimate the direct cost of diagnosing and treating melanoma disease in Sao Paulo (Brazil) between the years 2000 and 2007. METHODS: The project Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology was used, adapted to the proceedings of SOBECCan Foundation. The estimated costs were based on the values of the medical treatment paid by the Brazilian National Health System (SUS) and private healthcare insurance companies (PHIC) in 2007. RESULTS: The total cost was estimated in R$33,012,725.1 (SUS) and R$76,133,662.8 (PHIC). Stages 0, I and II comprised about 4.2% (SUS) and 1.3% (PHIC) of the total cost; stages III and IV amounted to 95.8% and 98.7% of the total cost, respectively. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of malignant melanoma in its initial stages reduces treatment costs generating considerable savings of resources for both National Health System and private healthcare insurance companies.

Keywords : Melanoma; Melanoma [cost]; Melanoma [therapy]; Skin neoplasms; Skin neoplasms [cost]; Ultraviolet rays.