role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of dysthyroid eye disease

ABSTRACT

Thirty cases of Dysthyroid eye disease [DED], were studied, together with eleven cases of thyroid hyperfunction without clinical eye manifestation, and ten cases of normal controls. The cases were evaluated clinically form the ophthalmic and medical points of view, and were examined by ophthalmic ultrasound. It was found that ultrasonographic extraocular muscles manifestations in the form of thickened muscle belly and internal echoes were found in cases with exophthalmos, and in some cases of hyperthyroidism without exophthalmos. The retrobulbar fat showed some changes in the form of internal vacuolation and irregular posterior limitant, and the optic nerve showed disk oedema and exaggeration of the sheathes, in few cases. Ultrasound was found to be very useful in diagnosing eye pathology in DED, and could be helpful in treatment follow up