Cost of Treatment of Benign and Premalignant Lesions During Skin Cancer Screening

To date, cost analyses of skin cancer detection and screening via total body skin examination (TBSE) have primarily focused on the costs of the visit, skin biopsies, and pathologic assessment of lesions. However, in addition to skin cancers, premalignant actinic keratoses (AKs) and benign lesions (acrochordons, verruca vulgaris, and seborrheic keratoses [SKs]) are likely to be identified and treated during TBSEs. Factoring in the costs of treating these lesions during skin cancer screening visits is important for evaluating the cost effectiveness of skin cancer screening in dermatology practices.