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Updated: Jan 18, 2026
Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach for Thyroid Lobectomy
Published on: May 12, 2023
Statewide episode spending variation of thyroidectomy for lower-risk thyroid cancer
Catherine B Jensen1, Steven Xie2, Aayushi Sinha2
1Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; National Clinician Scholars Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
Background:
This study aimed to evaluate variation in spending for thyroidectomy for patients with thyroid cancer.
Methods:
This retrospective cohort study analyzed risk-adjusted, price-standardized Michigan-based claims data from 2015 to 2022 and included patients who underwent thyroidectomy for lower-risk thyroid cancer. The primary outcome was 90-day spending. A mixed linear model with facility as a random effect identified factors associated with spending variability.
Results:
In total, 2516 patients underwent thyroidectomy at 81 facilities. Unadjusted 90-day spending ranged from $5917 to $25,630 across facilities (median $8993). Spending was lowest for lobectomy (median $7755) and highest for lobectomy followed by completion thyroidectomy (median $14,181). On regression, factors significantly associated with increased spending were patient age and readmission. The interaction between occurrence of post-operative complications and lengths of stay >2 nights contributed to dramatically higher spending.
Conclusions:
Reducing complications and associated length of stay as well hospital readmissions represent opportunities to improve the value of thyroidectomy.
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