Computed tomography in Graves' ophthalmopathy — evaluation regarding the muscle size and density units

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
60 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy were examined with CT before starting therapy. The muscle sizes were evaluated according to a staging, whereby more muscles were found to be enlarged in the group of patients with a short course of less than 2 years in comparison to the other group with a duration of disease of more than 2 years. These differences were particularly evident in the medialis and superior rectus muscle. However a long course of disease did not coincide with a reliable reduction in eye protusion. Additionally the density values differed according to the duration of disease, the lower ones being found in the group of patients with a long duration of disease. It can be assumed that fatty degenerations and/or fibrous alterations during the course of disease are responsible for this decrease in the density values.