Beyond the margins: Economic costs and complication rates associated with repeated breast-conserving surgeries.

1050Background: Considerable attention has been paid to the problem of repeated breast-conserving surgery (BCS; i.e., lumpectomy), but the costs and complications due to these additional operations are not well-characterized. To address this issue, a retrospective review of insurance claims data for BCS patients was performed to assess complications and economic outcomes. Methods: Private claims from a single insurer were analyzed for 9,457 women undergoing BCS for breast carcinoma between January 2010 and September 2013 in either Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas. Patients undergoing a second open breast surgery (i.e., mastectomy or BCS) within 90 days of the initial BCS were classified as having a repeated surgery. Complications were identified via a set of 8 CPT and 25 ICD9 diagnosis and procedure codes related to breast cancer treatment. The analysis included these complications and the total cost of all allowed healthcare claims within two years following diagnosis. Results: 7,287/9,457 patien...