Indian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 2020;6(1):151–154
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Indian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
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Case Report
Bilateral lacrimal gland enlargement in a patient with thyroid orbitopathy
Nagalakshmi Narayana-swamy
1,
*, Alhaj Farhath Tasneem
1
1
Dept. of Ophthalmology, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
ARTICLE INFO
Article history:
Received 18-11-2019
Accepted 11-12-2019
Available online 17-03-2020
Keywords:
Lacrimal Gland
Orbit
Thyroid Orbitopathy
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Thyroid Orbitopathy is a condition associated with thyroid dysfunction. In addition
to exophthalmos, eyelid retraction, eyelid oedema, restrictive extra-ocular myopathy, lacrimal gland
enlargement can also be observed in these patients. However thyroid orbitopathy is not usually been
considered in the differential diagnosis of cases of isolated lacrimal gland enlargement.
Materials and Methods: An elderly male patient at our institution presented with bilateral lacrimal gland
enlargement as the clinical or radiologic sign and was later diagnosed as thyroid orbitopathy. Computerized
tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging of the orbits were obtained and demonstrated isolated
lacrimal gland enlargement with enlargement of lateral rectus and inferior rectus.
Result: A case of bilateral lacrimal gland enlargement found in a patient with thyroid orbitopathy was
noted. Patient was investigated and kept on follow up.
Conclusion: This case represents, enlargement of lacrimal gland as a presenting sign of thyroid orbitopathy.
Further clinical and radiological studies are essential for a better understanding of the timing of lacrimal
gland involvement. In such patients presenting with lacrimal gland enlargement, thyroid orbitopathy should
be strongly considere d in the differential diagnosis in addition to causes such as of dacryo-adenitis and
neoplasms.
© 2020 Published by Innovative Publication. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND
license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
1. Introduction
Thyroid Orbitopathy is the most common cause of proptosis
and orbital inflammation in adults. Thyroid orbitopathy is
characterized by inflammation, congestion, hypertrophy, fat
and orbital muscles fibrosis leading to increase in volume of
the muscles.
1
The signs and symptoms present within one year of the
onset of the disease and extra-ocular muscles are involved as
an immunological phenomenon and present with increase in
volume.
2
Characteristic ocular signs include exophthalmos,
eyelid retraction, eyelid oedema, restrictive extra -ocular
myopathy, and optic neuropathy associated with thyroid
dysfunction.
The lacrimal gland can be affected in thyroid orbitopathy,
though not commonly considered as a primary sign.
3–5
We
* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: anushkanarayan5@gmail.com (N.
Narayana-swamy).
present a case of thyroid orbitopathy where bilateral
lacrimal gland enlargement detected on imaging studies was
the predominate clinical sign in addition to other features of
lacrimal gland enlargement.
2. Case Report
A 65-year-old male presented with complaints of swelling
and protrusion of left eye (Figures 1 and 2) since 4 years.
Patient has been treated in an institution outside with oral
steroids and found no remission. He was a known case of
hypertension on treatment and no other comorbidities. On
examination visual acuity in right eye was 6/36 and 6/18 in
left eye with normal near vision. Colour vision was normal
in both eyes.
External exam showed upper eyelid fullness of right eye
more than left eye and left side proptosis of 4 millimetre.
Motility testing demonstrated a mild elevation deficit of the
right eye and a 3 prism dioptre left Hypotropia. There was
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