[Effects of external orbital radiotherapy on the oculomotor muscle in Graves disease].

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Orbital radiotherapy is recognised to be effective in the treatment of acute Graves' disease. The effect on the oculomotor muscles is still controversial.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

To assess this effect, we conducted a prospective study on 15 patients with acute Graves' ophthalmopathy. Patients were investigated before radiotherapy, 3 months later and at long term (mean = 2 years). To study the extent of the ophthalmopathy we chose the following criteria: class IV in the NOSPECS classification system, amplitude of gaze, measurement of the thickness of oculomotor muscles (CT-scan).

RESULTS:

Improvement of the amplitude of gaze and reduction of the thickness of oculomotor muscles were not statistically significant. The oculomotor disorder was unchanged 3 months after radiotherapy. After a long term follow up (mean: 2 years), only 5 patients, among those who complained of diplopia before radiotherapy, had to be operated, especially large deviations.

CONCLUSION:

Orbital radiotherapy does not appear as a direct treatment for oculomotor disorder in active thyroid related ophthalmopathy, however favorable indirect effects may be effective due to reduction of inflammation. As it is a harmless treatment, orbital radiotherapy may be proposed as primary treatment in active thyroid related ophthalmopathy.

• Authors: T Maalouf, K Angioi-Duprez, V Beckendorff, T Malet, J L George
• Journal: Journal francais d'ophtalmologie (J Fr Ophtalmol) Vol. 19 Issue 12 Pg. 748-54 ( 1996) ISSN: 0181-5512 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Effets de la radiothérapie orbitaire externe sur le muscle oculomoteur dans l'ophtalmopathie thyroïdienne.
• PMID: 9033899 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Female
• Graves Disease (radiotherapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oculomotor Muscles (physiopathology)
• Orbit
• Prospective Studies
• Time Factors