Lacrimal gland enlargement in thyroid eye disease

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate lacrimal gland (LG) enlargement in thyroid eye disease (TED) patients on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on TED patients who had undergone fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI of the orbits. The lacrimal gland was segmented on OsiriX in consecutive axial and coronal slices to determine its volume. Enlargement was defined as a volume greater than 1100mm³, based on previous normative data. Asymmetric enlargement was defined if one side was enlarged but the contralateral side was not. Clinical data including presentation (active/inactive) and presence or absence of dysthyroid optic neuropathy was evaluated.

Results: The study population consisted of 88 orbits from forty-four patients with a mean age of 53 ± 15 years, with 29 (65%) being female. Twelve patients (27%) had LG enlargement, with eight (18%) having bilateral enlargement and four (9%) having asymmetric enlargement. There was no significant difference in age (p = 0.17) or sex (p = 0.44) between the LG enlarged and non-enlarged groups. There was also no significant difference in the clinical activity (p = 0.46) or prevalence of dysthyroid optic neuropathy (p = 0.63) between the LG enlarged orbits and non-LG enlarged orbits.

Conclusion: Lacrimal gland enlargement may be observed in approximately thirty percent of TED patients, with asymmetric enlargement in approximately ten percent of cases.