Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Ophthalmopathic exophthalmos is reported to favourably regress after total thyroidectomy compared to radio-iodine or antithyroid drug therapy. In this context, we present our experience based on a surgical series of Graves’ disease.

Materials and methods: This is a prospective study of 15 patients of Graves’ disease associated with ophthalmopathic exophthalmos. Preoperative and monthly postoperative evaluation of exophthalmos was done with Hertel’s exophthalmometer with a minimum follow up of the cohort was 12 months.

Results: F:M ratio was 12:3 and mean age=33.4 years (18–55). Exophthalmos was bilateral in 13 and unilateral in two patients. Exophthalmos regressed in 12 patients at mean follow-up of 8 months (2–14) and was static in 3. Mean regression of exophthalmos was 2.2 mm (1–5). The regression was statistically significant at P value=0.04.

Conclusions: Graves’ disease associated exophthalmos regresses in 73% of cases with significant symptomatic relief, after thyroidectomy. Total thyroidectomy appears to be an ideal management for Graves’ disease associated with opthalmopathic exophthalmos.

Key words: Graves’ disease; Ophthalmopathy; Exophthalmos; Total thyroidectomy; Regression.