Wayne S Lee1, Barnard J A Palmer2, Arturo Garcia1, Vincent E Chong1, Terrence H Liu1. 1. Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco - East Bay, Oakland, CA. 2. Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco - East Bay, Oakland, CA. Electronic address: bpalmer@alamedahealthsystem.org.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with BRAF mutation carries a poorer prognosis. Prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) reduces locoregional recurrences, and we hypothesize that initial total thyroidectomy (TT) with CND in patients with BRAF-mutated PTC is cost effective. METHODS: This cost-utility analysis is based on a hypothetical cohort of 40-year-old women with small PTC [2 cm, confined to the thyroid, node(-)]. We compared preoperative BRAF testing and TT+CND if BRAF-mutated or TT alone if BRAF-wild type, versus no testing with TT. This analysis took into account treatment costs and opportunity losses. Key variables were subjected to sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Both approaches produced comparable outcomes, with costs of not testing being lower (-$801.51/patient). Preoperative BRAF testing carried an excess expense of $33.96 per quality-adjusted life-year per patient. Sensitivity analyses revealed that when BRAF positivity in the testing population decreases to 30%, or if the overall noncervical recurrence in the population increases above 11.9%, preoperative BRAF testing becomes the more cost-effective strategy. CONCLUSION: Outcomes with or without preoperative BRAF testing are comparable, with no testing being the slightly more cost-effective strategy. Although preoperative BRAF testing helps to identify patients with higher recurrence rates, implementing a more aggressive initial operation does not seem to offer a cost advantage.
BACKGROUND:Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with BRAF mutation carries a poorer prognosis. Prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) reduces locoregional recurrences, and we hypothesize that initial total thyroidectomy (TT) with CND in patients with BRAF-mutated PTC is cost effective. METHODS: This cost-utility analysis is based on a hypothetical cohort of 40-year-old women with small PTC [2 cm, confined to the thyroid, node(-)]. We compared preoperative BRAF testing and TT+CND if BRAF-mutated or TT alone if BRAF-wild type, versus no testing with TT. This analysis took into account treatment costs and opportunity losses. Key variables were subjected to sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Both approaches produced comparable outcomes, with costs of not testing being lower (-$801.51/patient). Preoperative BRAF testing carried an excess expense of $33.96 per quality-adjusted life-year per patient. Sensitivity analyses revealed that when BRAF positivity in the testing population decreases to 30%, or if the overall noncervical recurrence in the population increases above 11.9%, preoperative BRAF testing becomes the more cost-effective strategy. CONCLUSION: Outcomes with or without preoperative BRAF testing are comparable, with no testing being the slightly more cost-effective strategy. Although preoperative BRAF testing helps to identify patients with higher recurrence rates, implementing a more aggressive initial operation does not seem to offer a cost advantage.
Authors: Jae Won Chang; Ki Wan Park; Jae Hyung Heo; Seung-Nam Jung; Lihua Liu; Sung Min Kim; In Sun Kwon; Bon Seok Koo Journal: World J Surg Date: 2018-01 Impact factor: 3.352