Analysis of hospitalization costs and length of stay for oral cancer patients undergoing surgery: Evidence from Hunan, China

•Male is a significant driver of hospitalization costs and LOS for OC.•Age over 60 is associated with lower hospitalization costs, but not with LOS.•The first report on costs and LOS among major OC subsites and reconstructive methods.•Mouth cancer is associated with the highest cost and LOS, and lip cancer the lowest.•Regional flaps are less expensive than free flaps for oral reconstruction. To provide information about hospitalization costs and length of stay (LOS) for inpatients undergoing oral cancer (OC) surgery, and to investigate the association of hospitalization costs and LOS with demographics, tumor subsite, surgery-related and hospital characteristics. Data extracted from Chinese National Health Statistics Network Reporting System database in Hunan, China during 2017–2019 were analyzed using quantile regression models. A total of 6,420 OC patients undergoing surgery were identified. After controlling potential compounding variables, the median hospitalization cost was significantly higher in male than in female patientsby $515.70 at the median (p