Abstract
We examined 25 patients with thyroid eye disease, using both the STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery) sequence and cine MRI techniques. A number of characteristic features can be seen on the cine MRI. There is muscle enlargement with restriction of movement and, in the burnt-out phase of the disease, reduced elasticity of the muscles is manifest as their failure to stretch on eye movement. This is in contrast to the active phase of the disease, where although the muscles are enlarged, muscle stretching is clearly visible. The STIR sequence gives an assessment of muscle water content, and hence a high signal is seen in active disease. Combining these techniques is useful in assessing the level of disease activity in thyroid eye disease, and helps in planning further management.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Gorman CA . Ophthalmology in Graves' disease. [editorial]. N Engl J Med 1983;308:453–5.
Weetman AP, McGregor AM, Hall S . Ocular manifestations of Graves' disease: a review. J R Soc Med 1984;77:936–42.
Sergott RC, Feldberg NT, Savino PJ, et al. E-rosette formation in Graves' ophthalmopathy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1979;18:1245–51.
Trokel SL, Jakobiec FA . Correlation of CT scanning and pathologic features of ophthalmic Graves' disease. Ophthalmology 1981;88:553–64.
Fells P, Kousoulides L, Pappa A, Munro P, Lawson J . Extraocular muscle problems in thyroid eye disease. Eye 1994;8:497–505.
Han JS, Benson JE, Bonstelle CT, Alfidi RJ, Kaufman B, Levine M . Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbit. Radiology 1984;150:755–9.
Jay WM . Advances in magnetic resonance imaging. Am J Ophthalmol 1989;108:592–6.
Cadera W, Viirre E, Karlik S . Cine magnetic resonance imaging of ocular motility. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1991;29:120–2.
Bailey CC, Kabala J, Laitt R, Hoh HB, Goddard P, Potts MJ, Harrad RA . Cine magnetic resonance imaging of eye movements. Eye 1993;7:691–3.
Hoh HB, Laitt RD, Wakeley C, Kabala J, Goddard P, Potts MJ, Harrad RA . The STIR sequence MRI in the assessment of extraocular muscles in thyroid eye disease. Eye 1994;8:506–10.
Werner SC . Modification of the classification of eye changes of Graves' disease. Am J Ophthalmol 1977;83:725–7.
Mourits MP, Koornneef LK, Wiersinga WM, et al. Clinical criteria for the assessment of disease activity in Graves' ophthalmology: a novel approach. Br J Ophthalmol 1989;73:639–44.
Smiddy WE, Michels RG, Kumar AJ . Magnetic resonance imaging of retrobulbar changes in optic nerve position with eye movement. Am J Ophthalmol 1989;107:82–3.
Kroll A, Kuwabara T . Dysthyroid ocular myopathy: anatomy, histology and electron microscopy. Arch Ophthalmol 1966;76:244–57.
Bahn RS, Heufelder AE . Pathogenesis of Graves' ophthalmopathy. N Engl J Med 1993;329:1468–75.
Lyons CJ, Vickers SF, Lee JP . Botulinum toxin therapy in dysthyroid strabismus. Eye 1990;4:538–40.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bailey, C., Kabala, J., Laitt, R. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging in thyroid eye disease. Eye 10, 617–619 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1996.140
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1996.140
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Quantitative Analysis of Inflammation in Orbital Fat of Thyroid-associated Ophthalmopathy Using MRI Signal Intensity
Scientific Reports (2017)
-
Use of MRI signal intensity of extraocular muscles to evaluate methylprednisolone pulse therapy in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy
Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology (2015)
-
Bilateral multiple extraocular muscle enlargement and gangrenous limb extremities: Is there an association?
Eye (2002)
-
The role of Tc-99m polyclonal human immunoglobulin G scintigraphy in Graves’ ophthalmopathy
Annals of Nuclear Medicine (2002)
-
An unusual presentation of Graves' disease
Eye (1999)