Cost for treatment and follow-up of thyroid cancer increases according to the severity of disease.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to provide an analysis of thyroid cancer-related health care costs over a 5-year period, according to the extent of thyroid surgery. The study included 33 patients from our institutional database who underwent thyroid cancer surgery in 2010. Patients were divided into four groups based on surgical extent: (1) hemithyroidectomy, (2) total thyroidectomy, (3) total thyroidectomy with ipsilateral radical neck dissection, and (4) total thyroidectomy with bilateral radical neck dissection and mediastinal dissection. Costs for admission and outpatient follow-up for 5 years were analyzed. Costs for outpatient follow-up and admission, and overall cost increased with increasing stage of disease and increasing extent of thyroid surgery. Patients who underwent only hemithyroidectomy had the lowest costs for outpatient follow-up and admission, as well as the lowest overall cost. Over the 5-year follow-up period, surgery performed at an early disease stage was the most cost-effective.