The utility of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and surgical planning of thyroid eye disease and dysthyroid optic neuropathy
Abstract
Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune inflammatory orbitopathy that can threaten vision in severe cases due to dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). While TED is primarily diagnosed clinically, orbital imaging with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a pivotal role in confirming the diagnosis in atypical presentations, distinguishing TED from other orbital diseases, assessing disease activity, and guiding management. This narrative review examines the role of CT and MRI in the diagnosis and management of TED, with particular focus on their application in differential diagnosis, identification of DON, and surgical planning including volumetric analysis. We summarize characteristic CT and MRI findings in TED, such as enlargement of extraocular muscles with tendon sparing and inflammatory changes detectable on MRI and compare utility of each modality. Imaging features that predict or confirm DON, a complication that affects roughly 5%–8% of patients with TED, are highlighted, including apical muscle crowding and optic nerve compression. We also discuss how modern imaging techniques facilitate surgical planning for orbital decompression and enable objective monitoring of disease progression or response to therapy. This review underscores how CT and MRI contribute to comprehensive TED care and identifies emerging advancements and gaps in knowledge that future research should address.
Related
- Cuboid stress fracture as an uncommon cause of lateral foot pain: Correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and photon-counting computed tomography - A case report
- Computed Tomography-Guided Diagnosis of Massive Cystojejunal Bleeding.
- Cuboid stress fracture as an uncommon cause of lateral foot pain: Correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and photon-counting computed tomography - A case report
- Thyroid eye disease with dysthyroid optic neuropathy 15 years after incomplete thyroidectomy
- Semicircular canal aplasia: radiologic spectrum and clinical correlations on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging
BibTeX
@article{moore2026utility,
title = {{The utility of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and surgical planning of thyroid eye disease and dysthyroid optic neuropathy}},
author = {Julia Moore and Sanjana Jaiswal and Prem S. Subramanian},
journal = {Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.4103/tjo.tjo-d-26-00048},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4103/tjo.tjo-d-26-00048},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The utility of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and surgical planning of thyroid eye disease and dysthyroid optic neuropathy
AU - Julia Moore
AU - Sanjana Jaiswal
AU - Prem S. Subramanian
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology
DO - 10.4103/tjo.tjo-d-26-00048
UR - https://doi.org/10.4103/tjo.tjo-d-26-00048
AB - Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune inflammatory orbitopathy that can threaten vision in severe cases due to dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). While TED is primarily diagnosed clinically, orbital imaging with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a pivotal role in confirming the diagnosis in atypical presentations, distinguishing TED from other orbital diseases, assessing disease activity, and guiding management. This narrative review examines the role of CT and MRI in the diagnosis and management of TED, with particular focus on their application in differential diagnosis, identification of DON, and surgical planning including volumetric analysis. We summarize characteristic CT and MRI findings in TED, such as enlargement of extraocular muscles with tendon sparing and inflammatory changes detectable on MRI and compare utility of each modality. Imaging features that predict or confirm DON, a complication that affects roughly 5%–8% of patients with TED, are highlighted, including apical muscle crowding and optic nerve compression. We also discuss how modern imaging techniques facilitate surgical planning for orbital decompression and enable objective monitoring of disease progression or response to therapy. This review underscores how CT and MRI contribute to comprehensive TED care and identifies emerging advancements and gaps in knowledge that future research should address.
SN - 2211-5056
SN - 2211-5072
ER -