Geographic Variation in Cost of Managing Actinic Keratosis

Geographic variability in health care usage and spending for the management of actinic keratoses has been evaluated by a new study.

Actinic keratoses - or AK - is a rough scaly patch that most commonly appears on sun-exposed areas. These growths require regular management because a small proportion of them can progress to squamous cell skin cancer.

A new article and podcast published online by JAMA Dermatology examines geographic variability in health care usage and spending for the management of AK. Understanding geographic variation in AK spending is an opportunity to decrease waste or recoup excess spending, according to the report.

Cryotherapy Vs. Photodynamic Therapy for Actinic Keratoses
Bottom Line: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) -which uses topical agents and light to kill tissue, appears to better clear actinic keratoses (AKs, a common skin lesion caused by sun damage) at three months after treatment than cryotherapy (which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze lesions).

‘Geographic variation in actinic keratoses spending is an opportunity to decrease waste or recoup excess spending.’

Joslyn S. Kirby of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa., and coauthors, used data from a medical claims database for their study that examined geographic variation in health care costs and the association with patient-related and health-related factors.

Source-Eurekalert

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