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

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.