Regression of Ophthalmopathic Exophthalmos in Graves' Disease After Total Thyroidectomy: a Prospective Study of a Surgical Series

Autoimmune ophthalmopathy is one of the salient clinical features associated with Graves' disease. Exophthalmos is one of the commonest manifestations of Graves' associated ophthalmopathy. It is reported to regress after thyroidectomy favourably compared to radioiodine or antithyroid drug therapy. In this context, we present our experience based on a surgical series of Graves' disease. 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, apart from documenting lid, extra-ocular muscle and orbital involvement. The minimum follow-up of the cohort was 12 months. The female to male ratio was 12:3 and the mean age of the subjects was 33.4 years (18-55). Exophthalmos was bilateral in 13 and unilateral in 2 patients. All the 15 patients underwent total thyroidectomy without any major morbidity. Exophthalmos regressed in 12 patients at a mean follow-up of 15.6 +/- 6.4 months (14-38) and was static in 3. None of the cases had worsened ophthalmopathy at the final follow-up. Mean regression of exophthalmos was 2.1 mm (1-5). The regression was statistically significant at P value = 0.035. Surgery has a positive impact on the regression of ophthalmopathic exophthalmos associated with Graves' disease.