Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy in a Hypothyroid Patient

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune disorder of the orbit that occurs predominantly in Grave’s hyperthyroidism, while it is an uncommon clinical finding in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and hypothyroidism. We report the case of a 62-year-old female patient who pr...

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Main Authors: Dorotea Filipan, Renata Iveković, Tomislav Gregurić, Zvonko Kusić, Tomislav Jukić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sestre Milosrdnice University hospital, Institute of Clinical Medical Research 2024-01-01
Series:Acta Clinica Croatica
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Online Access:https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/482186
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author Dorotea Filipan
Renata Iveković
Tomislav Gregurić
Zvonko Kusić
Tomislav Jukić
author_facet Dorotea Filipan
Renata Iveković
Tomislav Gregurić
Zvonko Kusić
Tomislav Jukić
author_sort Dorotea Filipan
collection DOAJ
description Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune disorder of the orbit that occurs predominantly in Grave’s hyperthyroidism, while it is an uncommon clinical finding in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and hypothyroidism. We report the case of a 62-year-old female patient who presented with left eyelid edema, proptosis, diplopia, and lateral paralysis of the left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbits showed retrobulbar mass in the left orbit with hyperintense signals within left medial rectus muscle, offsetting but not infiltrating the optic nerve. An 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scan revealed pathological 18F-FDG uptake of expansive mass within rectus medialis muscle of the left eye (SUVmax= 11.0) and similar findings in the right eye (SUVmax=7.1). It also displayed increased glucose metabolism in the thyroid gland (SUVmax=6.4). Laboratory findings showed increased thyrotropin level, while thyroid-stimulating-hormone-receptor antibodies were negative. The patient was diagnosed with HT and TAO, so levothyroxine therapy was introduced. Gradual improvement of TAO symptoms was attained a year later. Diplopia subsided and the patient regained complete eye movements. In conclusion, correction of hypothyroidism can significantly improve symptoms of TAO. Additional value of this case report lies in 18F-FDG PET/CT images displaying increased
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spelling doaj-art-0599859d58b343de9880b2c0bcaa1db52025-08-20T02:36:07ZengSestre Milosrdnice University hospital, Institute of Clinical Medical ResearchActa Clinica Croatica0353-94661333-94512024-01-0163.3-482282610.20471/acc.2024.63.03-04.46Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy in a Hypothyroid PatientDorotea Filipan0Renata Iveković1Tomislav Gregurić2Zvonko Kusić3Tomislav Jukić4Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, CroatiaCroatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, CroatiaThyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune disorder of the orbit that occurs predominantly in Grave’s hyperthyroidism, while it is an uncommon clinical finding in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and hypothyroidism. We report the case of a 62-year-old female patient who presented with left eyelid edema, proptosis, diplopia, and lateral paralysis of the left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbits showed retrobulbar mass in the left orbit with hyperintense signals within left medial rectus muscle, offsetting but not infiltrating the optic nerve. An 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scan revealed pathological 18F-FDG uptake of expansive mass within rectus medialis muscle of the left eye (SUVmax= 11.0) and similar findings in the right eye (SUVmax=7.1). It also displayed increased glucose metabolism in the thyroid gland (SUVmax=6.4). Laboratory findings showed increased thyrotropin level, while thyroid-stimulating-hormone-receptor antibodies were negative. The patient was diagnosed with HT and TAO, so levothyroxine therapy was introduced. Gradual improvement of TAO symptoms was attained a year later. Diplopia subsided and the patient regained complete eye movements. In conclusion, correction of hypothyroidism can significantly improve symptoms of TAO. Additional value of this case report lies in 18F-FDG PET/CT images displaying increasedhttps://hrcak.srce.hr/file/482186Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathyHashimoto’s thyroiditishypothyroidismMagnetic resonance imaging18F-FDG PET/CT
spellingShingle Dorotea Filipan
Renata Iveković
Tomislav Gregurić
Zvonko Kusić
Tomislav Jukić
Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy in a Hypothyroid Patient
Acta Clinica Croatica
Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
hypothyroidism
Magnetic resonance imaging
18F-FDG PET/CT
title Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy in a Hypothyroid Patient
title_full Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy in a Hypothyroid Patient
title_fullStr Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy in a Hypothyroid Patient
title_full_unstemmed Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy in a Hypothyroid Patient
title_short Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy in a Hypothyroid Patient
title_sort thyroid associated ophthalmopathy in a hypothyroid patient
topic Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
hypothyroidism
Magnetic resonance imaging
18F-FDG PET/CT
url https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/482186
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AT zvonkokusic thyroidassociatedophthalmopathyinahypothyroidpatient
AT tomislavjukic thyroidassociatedophthalmopathyinahypothyroidpatient