Computed tomography in Graves' ophthalmopathy--evaluation regarding the muscle size and density units

60 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy were examined with CT before starting therapy. The muscle sizes were evaluated according to a staging, whereby more muscles were found to be enlarged in the group of patients with a short course of less than 2 years in comparison to the other group with a duration of disease of more than 2 years. These differences were particularly evident in the medialis and superior rectus muscle. However a long course of disease did not coincide with a reliable reduction in eye protusion. Additionally the density values differed according to the duration of disease, the lower ones being found in the group of patients with a long duration of disease. It can be assumed that fatty degenerations and/or fibrous alterations during the course of disease are responsible for this decrease in the density values.