From the Guidelines
Proptosis is not directly associated with subacute thyroiditis, but rather with thyroid eye disease, which is a separate condition that can occur in patients with thyroid disorders, including Graves' disease, which is often associated with hyperthyroidism, not subacute thyroiditis 1.
Key Points
- Proptosis, or exophthalmos, is a clinical manifestation of various orbital conditions, including thyroid eye disease, which is often associated with Graves' disease, not subacute thyroiditis 1.
- Thyroid eye disease can cause unilateral or bilateral proptosis, and its diagnosis and management involve a multidisciplinary approach, including ophthalmology, endocrinology, and orbital surgery 1.
- Subacute thyroiditis, on the other hand, is a condition characterized by inflammation of the thyroid gland, which can cause thyroid dysfunction, but it is not typically associated with proptosis or thyroid eye disease 1.
- The management of thyroid eye disease involves various treatments, including ocular lubricants, selenium supplementation, teprotumumab, orbital decompression, and strabismus surgery, depending on the severity and clinical manifestations of the disease 1.
- It is essential to differentiate between thyroid eye disease and subacute thyroiditis, as their diagnosis and management are distinct, and a correct diagnosis is crucial for providing appropriate treatment and preventing complications 1.
From the Research
Association between Proptosis and Subacute Thyroiditis
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to suggest a strong association between proptosis and subacute thyroiditis 2, 3.
- Proptosis is commonly associated with thyroid eye disease (TED), which is often linked to Graves' disease (GD) 4, 5.
- However, thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) can occur in euthyroid and hypothyroid patients, and some cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) have been reported to be associated with orbitopathy and proptosis 6.
- Subacute thyroiditis is a self-limited inflammatory disease characterized by anterior neck pain, and its treatment focuses on symptoms, but there is no mention of proptosis as a common symptom or complication in the provided studies 2, 3.