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Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Visualization in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer
Published on: June 9, 2023
Initial attributable cost and economic burden of clinically-relevant differentiated thyroid cancer: A health care
B H-H Lang1, C K H Wong2, C T Y Chan3
1Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Background:
Rapid rise in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) may impose a heavy economic burden on future healthcare. We aimed to calculate the average first-year monetary cost/patient for DTC and estimate the projected cost burden on our local healthcare system.
Methods:
Medical records of 270 clinically-relevant DTC patients were reviewed to calculate the amount of services utilized during the first-year. Only direct costs were included with estimates derived from government gazette. Cancer incidences were derived from the territory-wide cancer registry. Total annual cost equaled to the incidence multiplied by the cost/patient.
Results:
The average first-year cost of DTC was USD11,560/patient. Initial surgery accounted for 66.9% of total cost. Male and female annual percentage increases for DTC were 4.86% and 4.28%, respectively. Female DTC is projected to surpass rectal cancer in 2019 (20.4/100,000 vs. 20.0/100,000) and colon cancer (47.2/100,000 vs. 46.8/100,000) in 2039. However, the projected incidence of DTC in 2026 would still be about one fourth that of CRC (19.5/100,000 vs. 83.2/100,000).
Conclusions:
The average first-year monetary cost of DTC care was relatively low. Initial surgery accounted for most of the cost. Despite a rapid incidence rise, the projected first-year cost for DTC is unlikely to impose substantial economic burden on our local future healthcare system.
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