Table 1.
Cost of diagnostic steps recommended by thyroid nodule management guidelines
| Diagnostic Step | Cost |
| History and physical exam | €39.03 |
| Measurement of TSH | €23.42 |
| Thyroid ultrasonography | €39.03 |
| Tc99m thyroid scintigraphy | €93.66 |
| Palpation-guided FNA | €148.30 |
| Ultrasound-guided FNA | €226.35 |
| Subtotal hemithyroidectomy | €1545.77 |
FNA: thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The exchange rate of European Central Bank on July 4th 2008 was used to convert costs in New Turkish Liras to Euros. 8% value addition tax is included. Costs are from Turkish private health care sector in Istanbul.