Unilateral proptosis in a patient with thyroid eye disease: A case report

SAGE Open Med Case Rep. 2023 Jul 31:11:2050313X231190669. doi: 10.1177/2050313X231190669. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Unilateral proptosis is an abnormality in which one eye sticks out forward more than the other. Bulging of the eye is commonly seen in Graves' ophthalmopathy, but it's mostly bilateral. Thyroid eye disease presents as the most common extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves' disease, and rarely leads to unilateral proptosis. A 25-year-old female with a history of weight loss, menstrual irregularities, and palpitations presented with progressive right eye bulging, which was further confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and biochemical investigations. Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbit revealed unilateral extraocular muscle enlargement and enhancement with sparing of the tendons. Timely therapy is crucial for reversing the ocular manifestations of thyroid eye disease.

Keywords: Graves’ disease; Graves’ ophthalmopathy; autoimmune; thyroid eye disease; unilateral proptosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports