Functional structure of a high resolution thyroid nodule unit. Economic impact and results of its implementation in an Endocrinology department.

Autor: Bodoque Cubas J; Hospital Verge de la Cinta, Tortosa, Tarragona, Spain. Electronic address: jbodoque.ebre.ics@gencat.cat., Fernández Sáez J; Unitat de suport a la recerca Terres de l'Ebre, Fundació Institut Univesitari per a la recerca a l'atenció primària de la Salut Jordi Gol, Tortosa, Tarragona, Spain. Electronic address: jfernandez@idiapjgol.info., Martínez Hervás S; Departament de Medicina, Universitat de València, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain., Gil Boix JV; Hospital General Universitario de Castellón, Castelló de la Plana, Spain., Salazar González JJ; Hospital Verge de la Cinta, Tortosa, Tarragona, Spain., Pallarés Gasulla RM; Hospital Verge de la Cinta, Tortosa, Tarragona, Spain., Miret Llauradó M; Hospital Verge de la Cinta, Tortosa, Tarragona, Spain., Argüelles Jiménez I; Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain., Tofé Povedano S; Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Endocrinologia, diabetes y nutricion [Endocrinol Diabetes Nutr (Engl Ed)] 2024 Aug-Sep; Vol. 71 (7), pp. 290-297. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 02.
DOI: 10.1016/j.endien.2024.04.004
Abstrakt: Background and Objective: The high incidence of nodular thyroid pathology has led to growing concern about the economic impact that this pathology represents on the healthcare system. There are conclusive data about the cost-effectiveness of high-resolution units for nodular thyroid pathology; however, their implementation is not homogeneous in the Endocrinology and Nutrition services of our country. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the economic impact of the implementation of the high-resolution thyroid nodule unit (HRTNU) in our center.
Patients and Methods: The present work is a prospective, observational and descriptive study carried out in 1314 patients (82% women, mean age 58 years ds = 11) evaluated at the HRTNU during the period of August 2022-August 2023. Demographic data (age and sex) were analyzed, referral center and consultation type, number of total consultations and neck ultrasound performed, number of fine needle aspiration (FNAB) performed, and cytology results were analyzed.
Results: In the period from August 2022 to August 2023, a total of 1314 patients were evaluated (neck ultrasound and clinical consultation) and a total of 133 FNAB were performed, of which only 2.26% were non-diagnostic. Compared to the percentage of unsatisfactory FNAB from the previous year August 2021-July 2022 of 25%, a mean saving of 9931.43 euros was estimated. 84.47% of the patients evaluated for the first time by the HRTNU were discharged, estimating a mean saving of 133,200 euros.
Conclusions: The implementation of a HRTNU at the Endocrinology and Nutrition departments, coordinated with primary and specialized care, is a cost-effectiveness alternative, as it reduces the number of medical consultations and is accompanied by a higher rate of diagnostic FNAB.
(Copyright © 2024 SEEN and SED. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: