title: Acute presentation of thyroid ophthalmopathy.
abstract: Three patients are described who presented with acute painful proptosis, ptosis and ophthalmoplegia. Orbital cellulitis was initially diagnosed in all cases, but there was no therapeutic response to antibiotics. A dramatic improvement occurred with steroids. All patients had, or developed abnormal thyroid tests and CT Scans showed thickened ocular muscles. This is an unusual presentation of thyroid ophthalmopathy.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000209:etiology; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000209:etiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000209:etiology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D011239:Prednisolone; D006854:Hydrocortisone