BACKGROUND: Well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) is a prevalent disease, which is increasing in incidence faster than any other cancer. Substantial direct medical care costs are related to the diagnosis and treatment of newly diagnosed patients as well as the ongoing surveillance of patients who have a long life expectancy. Prior analyses of the aggregate health care costs attributable to WDTC in the United States have not been reported. METHODS: A stacked cohort cost analysis was performed on the US population from 1985 to 2013 to estimate the number of WDTC survivors in 2013. Incidence rates, and cancer-specific and overall survival were based on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data. Current and projected direct medical care costs attributable to the care of patients with WDTC were then estimated. Health care-related costs and event probabilities were based on Medicare reimbursement schedules and the literature. RESULTS: Estimated overall societal cost of WDTC care in 2013 for all US patients diagnosed after 1985 is $1.6 billion. Diagnosis, surgery, and adjuvant therapy for newly diagnosed patients (41%) constitutes the greatest proportion of costs, followed by surveillance of survivors (37%), and nonoperative death costs attributable to thyroid cancer care (22%). Projected 2030 costs (in 2013 US dollars) based on current incidence trends exceed $3.5 billion. CONCLUSIONS: Health care costs of WDTC are substantial. Unlike other cancers, the majority of the cost is incurred in the initial and continuing phases of care. With the projected increasing incidence, population, and survival trends, costs will continue to escalate.
BACKGROUND: Well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) is a prevalent disease, which is increasing in incidence faster than any other cancer. Substantial direct medical care costs are related to the diagnosis and treatment of newly diagnosed patients as well as the ongoing surveillance of patients who have a long life expectancy. Prior analyses of the aggregate health care costs attributable to WDTC in the United States have not been reported. METHODS: A stacked cohort cost analysis was performed on the US population from 1985 to 2013 to estimate the number of WDTC survivors in 2013. Incidence rates, and cancer-specific and overall survival were based on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data. Current and projected direct medical care costs attributable to the care of patients with WDTC were then estimated. Health care-related costs and event probabilities were based on Medicare reimbursement schedules and the literature. RESULTS: Estimated overall societal cost of WDTC care in 2013 for all US patients diagnosed after 1985 is $1.6 billion. Diagnosis, surgery, and adjuvant therapy for newly diagnosed patients (41%) constitutes the greatest proportion of costs, followed by surveillance of survivors (37%), and nonoperative death costs attributable to thyroid cancer care (22%). Projected 2030 costs (in 2013 US dollars) based on current incidence trends exceed $3.5 billion. CONCLUSIONS: Health care costs of WDTC are substantial. Unlike other cancers, the majority of the cost is incurred in the initial and continuing phases of care. With the projected increasing incidence, population, and survival trends, costs will continue to escalate.
Authors: R Michael Tuttle; Hernan Tala; Jatin Shah; Rebecca Leboeuf; Ronald Ghossein; Mithat Gonen; Matvey Brokhin; Gal Omry; James A Fagin; Ashok Shaha Journal: Thyroid Date: 2010-10-29 Impact factor: 6.568
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Authors: Mark G Shrime; David P Goldstein; Raewyn M Seaberg; Anna M Sawka; Lorne Rotstein; Jeremy L Freeman; Patrick J Gullane Journal: Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2007-12
Authors: Zubair W Baloch; Edmund S Cibas; Douglas P Clark; Lester J Layfield; Britt-Marie Ljung; Martha Bishop Pitman; Andrea Abati Journal: Cytojournal Date: 2008-04-07 Impact factor: 2.091
Authors: Yuri E Nikiforov; Raja R Seethala; Giovanni Tallini; Zubair W Baloch; Fulvio Basolo; Lester D R Thompson; Justine A Barletta; Bruce M Wenig; Abir Al Ghuzlan; Kennichi Kakudo; Thomas J Giordano; Venancio A Alves; Elham Khanafshar; Sylvia L Asa; Adel K El-Naggar; William E Gooding; Steven P Hodak; Ricardo V Lloyd; Guy Maytal; Ozgur Mete; Marina N Nikiforova; Vania Nosé; Mauro Papotti; David N Poller; Peter M Sadow; Arthur S Tischler; R Michael Tuttle; Kathryn B Wall; Virginia A LiVolsi; Gregory W Randolph; Ronald A Ghossein Journal: JAMA Oncol Date: 2016-08-01 Impact factor: 31.777