[The course of the disease in endocrine orbitopathy. Magnetic resonance tomographic documentation]

MR imaging of the orbits was performed in 59 patients with untreated Graves' ophthalmopathy (follow-up exams were performed in 11 patients). T2-relaxation times of eye muscles were calculated and correlated with duration of disease. Elevated T2 times indicating eye muscle edema were found even if ophthalmopathy had been existing for more than one year. MRI documented specific eye muscle changes and transformation of oedema to fibrosis and fatty degeneration. MRI thus allows for standardized planning of therapy and follow-up in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy.