Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
07:43
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Sinonasal abnormalities in patients with Graves' orbitopathy
Zachary M Soler1, Michael P Platt, Man-Kit Leung
1Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
The Laryngoscope
|February 24, 2011
Summary
Patients with Graves' orbitopathy show increased sinus mucosal thickening. This may be linked to autoantibodies targeting the thyrotropin receptor and IGF-1R found in sinus tissues.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Endocrinology
- Radiology
Background:
- Graves' orbitopathy is an autoimmune condition affecting the eyes.
- Sinus involvement is common in Graves' disease but its radiographic characteristics are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare radiographic sinus mucosal thickening in Graves' orbitopathy patients versus controls.
- To investigate the presence of key Graves' disease autoantigens in paranasal sinus mucosa.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 50 Graves' orbitopathy patients and 50 controls.
- Sinus CT scans were analyzed using Lund-MacKay and Harvard staging systems.
- Gene expression of thyrotropin receptor and IGF-1R in ethmoid mucosa was assessed via RT-qPCR and IHC.
Main Results:
- Graves' orbitopathy patients exhibited significantly greater sinus mucosal thickening (P < .01 for both staging systems).
- Increased thickening was observed in ethmoid, frontal, and sphenoid sinuses in the Graves' orbitopathy group (P < .05).
- Both thyrotropin receptor and IGF-1R gene expression were detected in ethmoid mucosa.
Conclusions:
- Patients with Graves' orbitopathy undergoing orbital decompression show a higher prevalence of sinus mucosal thickening.
- This thickening may be associated with autoantibodies against thyrotropin receptor and IGF-1R, which are expressed in sinus mucosa.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Graves' Disease I: Introduction
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism, or overactivity of the thyroid gland. It results from autoantibodies called thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs), which bind to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptors, leading to overstimulation of hormone production and a hypermetabolic state.EtiologyAlthough considered idiopathic, Graves’ disease has well-established contributing factors. There is a strong genetic component, with increased prevalence in...
01:24Graves Disease II: Pathophysiology
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the production of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) that activate TSH receptors, leading to excessive synthesis and release of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and resulting in hyperthyroidism.Among all causes of hyperthyroidism, Graves’ disease is the most common and can happen at any age, though it is more frequent in women. It produces a hypermetabolic state with features such as weight loss, tachycardia, tremor, and heat...
01:27Cranial Bones: Lateral View
The lateral view of the cranium is dominated by temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
01:28Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment
Angle-closure glaucoma, or closed-angle glaucoma, is an eye condition where the iris bulges out and blocks the iridocorneal angle, resulting in a buildup of aqueous humor and increased intraocular pressure. Immediate medical attention is necessary due to the sudden onset of symptoms. The treatment for angle-closure glaucoma includes short-term and long-term approaches. Short-term treatment involves using eye drops like pilocarpine to lower intraocular pressure by increasing aqueous humor...
01:25Glaucoma: Overview
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
01:17Accessory Structures of the Eye
Optical perception, or vision, is an extraordinary sense dependent on converting light signals received via the ocular organs. These organs, known as eyes, are securely positioned within the bony cavities of the skull, called orbits. The orbits serve a dual purpose: a protective shield for the ocular globes and a stable attachment point for the soft ocular tissues. The eye's external protective mechanisms include the eyelids, which are edged with lashes that act as a barrier against foreign...