title: Economic Evaluation of Recombinant Human Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Stimulation vs. Thyroid Hormone Withdrawal Prior to Radioiodine Ablation for Thyroid Cancer: The Korean Perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have suggested that recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone (rhTSH) stimulation is an acceptable alternative to thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) when radioiodine remnant ablation is planned for thyroid cancer treatment, based on superior short-term quality of life with non-inferior remnant ablation efficacy. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of radioiodine remnant ablation using rhTSH, compared with the traditional preparation method which renders patients hypothyroid by THW, in Korean perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  This economic evaluation considered the costs and benefits to the Korean public healthcare system. Clinical experts were surveyed regarding the current practice of radioiodine ablation in Korea and their responses helped inform assumptions used in a cost effectiveness model. Markov modelling with 17 weekly cycles was used to assess the incremental costs per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) associated with rhTSH. Clinical inputs were based on a multi-center, randomized controlled trial comparing remnant ablation success after rhTSH preparation with THW. The additional costs associated with rhTSH were considered relative to the clinical benefits and cost offsets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The additional benefits of rhTSH (0.036 QALY) are achieved with an additional cost of Korean won W961,105, equating to cost per QALY of W26,697,361. Sensitivity analyses had only a modest impact upon cost-effectiveness, with one-way sensitivity results of approximately W33,000,000/QALY.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of rhTSH is a cost-effective alternative to endogenous hypothyroid stimulation prior to radioiodine ablation for patients who have undergone thyroidectomy in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Seonam University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Seo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Thyroid Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Young
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Thyroid Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Thyroid Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. thyroid@skku.edu.
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
keywords: Ablation; Cost-effectiveness; Hypothyroid; Radioiodine; Thyroid neoplasms; Thyrotropin alfa