Oncoplastic approach in the conservative treatment of breast cancer: analysis of costs.

PURPOSE To analyze the direct costs of conservative surgical treatment of breast cancer, performed in a university hospital, to the Brazilian National Health Care Public System (SUS), checking the impact of the oncoplastic approach on these costs. METHODS One hundred thirty eight breast cancer patients who had undergone conservative treatment with oncoplastic approach (n=36) or not (control group, n=102), in the period from 2005 to 2010, were enrolled. Sociodemographic and clinical data were recorded. The direct costs of the surgical procedure were obtained and analyzed. RESULTS Groups did not differ in regard to age (p=0.963), and patients in oncoplastic group had a longer time of hospital stay (p=0.000). The median direct cost for the oncoplastic group was R$461.00 and for the control group was R$229.00 (p=0.000). CONCLUSION The oncoplastic approach has generated higher direct costs in conservative surgical treatment of breast cancer to SUS.