Radiofrequency ablation of thyroid nodules: prospective cost-effectiveness analysis in comparison to conventional thyroidectomy

Schalch, Marcelo Soares; Costa, Anna Carolina Novais; Souza, Rafael Pereira de; Guerra, Filipe Lamounier Barros; Guerreiro, Roberta; Cicco, Rafael De

doi:10.20945/2359-3997000000411

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…16 Very recently, a small prospective randomized study from Brazil showed statistically significant decreased hospital utilization and costs (24% cheaper) in comparison to partial thyroidectomy. 17 This study noted the cost of the probe as the major contributor to RFA costs. Yue et al's 2016 study showed probe costs as the driving factor for greater expense of RFA in comparison to open lobectomy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Cost comparison between open thyroid lobectomy and radiofrequency ablation for management of thyroid nodules

Miller¹,

Tanavde²,

Razavi³

et al. 2022

Head & Neck

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Background: There is an increasing array of treatment options for addressing clinically significant thyroid nodules, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA). While effective, the cost compared to alternative approaches has not been well elucidated.Methods: This study involved a retrospective chart review, focusing on variable direct cost (VDC) of each procedure, from April 2016 to January 2020. We analyzed costs for 53 open lobectomies and 16 RFA procedures. Results: Cost effectiveness depended on the simulated cost of the RFA probe.In comparison to open lobectomy, the VDC to perform RFA was $597 (19%) cheaper when the simulated probe cost was $1500 and $403 (13%) more expensive for a probe cost of $2500. Statistical significance was achieved for both these differences. Conclusions: If cost per RFA probe can be less than $2100-the break-even dollar amount between open lobectomy and RFA-there would be considerable cost savings for treating thyroid nodules.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Cost comparison between open thyroid lobectomy and radiofrequency ablation for management of thyroid nodules

Miller¹,

Tanavde²,

Razavi³

et al. 2022

Head & Neck

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“…In the same way, some systematic reviews assessing the safety of thermal ablation compared surgery versus RFA and showed that both are safe options for managing benign TN and low-risk PTMCs. However, thermal ablation achieved a lower complication rate [ 23 , 24 ]. In our study, there were only five minor complications.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiofrequency ablation for thyroid nodules in Ecuador: a cross-sectional study

Garcia,

Solis-Pazmino,

Lincango

et al. 2024

Thyroid Res

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Objectives To describe the demographic characteristics and clinical outcomes following the first cohort of patients with Bening Thyroid Nodule (BTN) and (Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma) (PTMC) treated with Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)in Ecuador. Methods Single-center, cross-sectional study. We included adults undergoing RFA for BTN and PTMC between July 2019 and May 2022. Descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare some pre- and post-intervention outcomes. Results We included 44 patients with 36 BTNs and eight PTMCs. The median age was 45.80 years (IQR 16–79 years), and most patients had normal thyroid function (72.72%). The median follow-up time was 7.80 months (IQR1.0-34.0). Nodules were primarily solid (43.21%) or predominantly solid (56.81%). The pre-RFA median volume in the benign lesions group was 10.30 ml (IQR 1.86–18.97). After ablation, the 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month median volumes were 6.90 (IQR 0.48–10.15; p < 0.01) mL, 5.72 (IQR 0.77–7.25; p = 0.045); 0.98 (IQR 0.25–3.64; p < 0.01), and 0.11 (IQR 0.07–11.26; p = 0.026), respectively. The volume rate reduction was 47.20%, 72.20%, 74.00%, and 96.20% at 1, 3, 6, and 12-month follow-ups, respectively. The pre-RFA median volume in the PTMC group was 0.25 ml (IQR 0.19–0.48). After ablation, the 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month mean volumes were 0.19 (range 0.12–0.31; p = 0.120) mL, 0.10 (IQR 0.05–0.15; p = 0.13), and 0.01 (IQR 0.005–0.04; p = 0.364), respectively. Conclusions In this first report from Ecuador, we found that RFA may be a feasible alternative for treating benign and malignant thyroid nodules in the short term. Long-term data are needed to evaluate oncologic outcomes in PTMC patients.

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“…RFA can be performed in a clinic, removing the cost of an operating room. From a financial perspective, RFA of indeterminate nodules could potentially be more cost-friendly than thyroidectomy, as is the case for both benign [ 31 ] and low-risk papillary thyroid carcinomas [ 32 ]. Finally, patients undergoing RFA typically only complain of minimally discomforting symptoms, which typically resolve on their own.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiofrequency Ablation of Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules: The First North American Comparative Analysis

Issa

Omar

Issa

et al. 2022

IJMS

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Thyroid nodules can be classified as benign, malignant, or indeterminate, the latter of which make up 10–30% of nodules. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become an attractive and promising therapy for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. However, few studies have investigated the safety and efficacy of RFA for the management of indeterminate thyroid nodules. In this study, 178 patients with thyroid nodules diagnosed as benign (Bethesda II) or indeterminate (Bethesda III/IV) by preoperative cytopathological analysis were included. Patients in the benign and indeterminate cohorts had similar thyroid nodule volume reduction rates at 65.60% and 64.20%, respectively (p = 0.68). The two groups had similar nodular regrowth rates, at 11.2% for benign nodules and 9.40% for indeterminate nodules (p = 0.72). A total of three cases of transient dysphonia were reported. RFA of indeterminate thyroid nodules was comparable to that of benign thyroid nodules in all parameters of interest, including volume reduction rate. To our best knowledge, our work is the first North American analysis comparing benign and indeterminate thyroid nodules and suggests RFA to be a promising modality for the management of indeterminate thyroid nodules.

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Radiofrequency ablation of thyroid nodules: prospective cost-effectiveness analysis in comparison to conventional thyroidectomy

Cited by 7 publications

References 28 publications

Cost comparison between open thyroid lobectomy and radiofrequency ablation for management of thyroid nodules

Cost comparison between open thyroid lobectomy and radiofrequency ablation for management of thyroid nodules

Radiofrequency ablation for thyroid nodules in Ecuador: a cross-sectional study

Radiofrequency Ablation of Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules: The First North American Comparative Analysis

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