Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40402435›Full record

ArticleJournal of endocrinological investigation2025

Cost analysis and resource allocation in the management of benign thyroid nodules: a comparison of surgery and thermal ablation techniques.

Enrico Papini, Michele Basile, Roberto Novizio, Agostino Paoletta, Agnese Persichetti, Irene Samperi, Alessandro Scoppola, Anna Crescenzi, Annamaria D'Amore, Maurilio Deandrea and 12 more

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of endocrinological investigation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

22 authors.

Enrico PapiniEndocrinology, Ospedale Regina Apostolorum, Albano Laziale, Italy.
Michele BasileHigh School of Economy and Management of Health Systems, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Roberto NovizioUnit of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli- IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. robertonovizio@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5641-6847
Agostino PaolettaEndocrinology, ULSS6,, Euganea, Padova, Italy.
Agnese PersichettiMinistry of Interior - Department of Firefighters, Public Rescue and Civil Defense, Rome, Italy.
Irene SamperiEndocrinology, ASL Novara, Rome, Italy.
Alessandro ScoppolaEndocrinology, Ospedale Santo Spirito, Rome, Italy.
Anna CrescenziDepartment of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Annamaria D'AmoreDivision of Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery, Department of Medical Abdominal Surgical and Endocrine- Metabolic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Maurilio DeandreaEndocrinology and Center for Thyroid Diseases, Ospedale Mauriziano "Umberto I", Turin, Italy.
Andrea FrasoldatiEndocrinology, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova IRCCS, ASL Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Roberto GarberoglioPrivate practice, Turin, Italy.
Rinaldo GuglielmiEndocrinology, Ospedale Regina Apostolorum, Albano Laziale, Italy.
Giovanni MauriInterventional Radiology, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant Ambrogio, Italy.
Celestino Pio LombardiDivision of Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery, Department of Medical Abdominal Surgical and Endocrine- Metabolic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Soraya PuglisiDepartment of Clinical and Biological Sciences 1 st Internal Medicine, AOU San Luigi di Orbassano University of Turin, Orbassano TO, Italy.
Teresa RagoEndocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa PI, Italy.
Vincenzo TriggianiDepartment of Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Dominique Van DoorneAME Supervisor for Relationship with Patients' Associations, Rome, Italy.
Domenico SalvatoreDepartment of Public Health, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Rosella SaulleDepartment of Epidemiology, Regional Health Service - ASL, Regione Lazio, Roma 1, Italy.
Roberto AttanasioAME Scientific Committee, Milan, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionBenign thyroid nodules are common in adults, with incidental detection rates reaching 50-60% in women. While most nodules are asymptomatic and require no treatment, some grow and cause compressive symptoms.

objectiveThis study evaluates the economic impact of various treatment modalities for benign thyroid nodules within the Italian healthcare system, comparing total thyroidectomy, hemithyroidectomy, and minimally invasive thermal ablation. The analysis considers both direct healthcare costs and indirect social costs, such as productivity losses, from the perspective of the Italian National Health Service.

methodsA literature review and clinician survey were conducted to collect cost data across treatment phases: pre-hospitalization, procedure, and post-operative care. An Activity-Based Costing approach was used to estimate full treatment costs, including medical expenses, staff involvement, material usage, and indirect costs related to work absences.

resultsThe findings indicate that total thyroidectomy has the highest overall cost (€ 5,185.36), followed by hemithyroidectomy (€ 4,211.92), and thermal ablation (€ 1,560.06). The analysis also highlighted significant cost savings associated with thermal ablation when compared to surgical options, especially in terms of reduced hospital stay and lower indirect costs. Nevertheless, surgical procedures remain the mainstay treatment due to long-term efficacy and well-established clinical guidelines.

conclusionThermal ablation represents a cost-effective alternative to surgery for managing benign thyroid nodules. Treatment selection should be individualized, considering clinical factors, patient preferences, and long-term outcomes. These results underscore the importance of updating management guidelines to incorporate economic considerations, promoting optimized care and efficient resource allocation in the healthcare context.

Indexed as

Ablation TechniquesHealth Care CostsResource AllocationThyroidectomyThyroid NoduleCosts and Cost AnalysisHumansItalyBenign thyroid nodulesCost-effectiveness analysisHemithyroidectomyItalian healthcare systemThermal ablationTotal thyroidectomy

Identifiers

PMID40402435
PMCPMC12313836

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.