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Normal exophthalmometry measurements in a United States pediatric population
Johanna M Dijkstal1, Erick D Bothun, Andrew R Harrison
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Insights
Exophthalmometry measurements in children increase with age, establishing new U.S. pediatric reference data. This study provides essential clinical guidelines for normal exophthalmometry in the pediatric population.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Biometry
Background:
- Establishing normative data for exophthalmometry is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring various pediatric ocular conditions.
- Previous studies may lack comprehensive data specific to the U.S. pediatric population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the normal distribution of exophthalmometry measurements in a U.S. pediatric population.
- To provide age-specific reference data for exophthalmometry in children for clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 673 healthy children aged 1-17 years.
- Exophthalmometry measurements were taken using an exophthalmometer.
- Exclusion criteria included history of orbital tumors, craniofacial anomalies, thyroid disease, or trauma.
Main Results:
- Mean exophthalmometry measurements showed a significant increase with age, ranging from 13.2 mm in children under 4 to 16.2 mm in those aged 13-17.
- No significant difference in measurements was observed between male and female subjects.
- Asymmetric measurements (up to 2 mm difference) were noted in 14.9% of subjects.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric exophthalmometry measurements are age-dependent.
- This study presents valuable reference data for different age groups within the U.S. pediatric cohort.
Purpose:
The normal distribution of exophthalmometry measurements in a U.S. pediatric population was determined as a reference for clinical practice.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study, in which 673 normal subjects, between 1 and 17 years of age, randomly selected from patients presenting to our institution, were measured with an exophthalmometer. Normal volunteers also participated at a booth at the annual state fair. Subjects were excluded for a prior history of orbital tumor, craniofacial anomaly, thyroid disease, orbital trauma, or inability to tolerate the measurement.
Results:
A total of 673 subjects (52% female) with a mean age of 9.6 years were studied. There was no difference in exophthalmometric measurements between male and female subjects. Mean exophthalmometric measurements increased with age: less than 4 years old (13.2 mm), 5-8 years old (14.4 mm), 9-12 years old (15.2 mm), and 13-17 years old (16.2 mm). Asymmetric measurements occurred in 100 (14.9%) subjects, with a 2-mm maximal difference in 2 subjects.
Conclusion:
Exophthalmometric measurements vary with age among the pediatric population. Reference data are presented for each age group in a U.S. cohort.
